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Myles Garrett, Von Miller, Aaron Wallace and Jacob Green would form a Mount Rushmore of Texas A&M pass rushers.
A place could be carved in for Cashius Howell if he can mount more rush. Or maybe just continue what he has done so far this football season.
Not even halfway through the season, Howell leads the Southeastern Conference and is second in the nation with seven sacks.
At his current pace, Howell could finish with at least 16.5 sacks, which would be more than Garrett ever posted in a single season. His best was 12.5 sacks in 2014.
Indeed, if Howell does maintain his pace, he’d notch the most sacks in an A&M season since Miller had 17 in 2009.
That would be a monumental accomplish for Howell, who would be honored just to be mentioned among those A&M legends.
“That would definitely be an honor for Aggie Nation to give me that type of title,” Howell said after practice on Tuesday. “I’ve just got to continue to keep trying to perfect my craft, put in the hard work and just hoping for God’s grace and God’s mercy.”
Howell hasn’t shown much mercy on quarterbacks. He sacked Utah State’s Bryson Barnes on three consecutive plays in A&M’s 44-22 victory.
He sacked Auburn’s Jackson Arnold to force a fourth-quarter punt when the Aggies were protecting a 16-10 lead.
He sacked Mississippi State’s Blake Shapen three times last week.
But Howell’s havoc isn’t limited to sacks. He also deflected a pass from behind just as it was leaving Shapen’s hand to cause an interception.
Defensive linemen, though, are often judged by sacks total. Last spring, A&M had three defensive linemen — Shemar Stewart, Nic Scourton and Shemar Turner — taken in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft.
Their departure raised questions of from where will the pass rush come this season.
However, that trio combined to produce just 8.5 sacks all of last year. Howell is just 1.5 sacks behind.
Howell, who posted 9.5 sacks for Bowling Green in 2023, isn’t surprised by his fast start.
“I can’t say I’m surprised,” he said. “I mean, this is something that I really honestly have been doing. I’ve had the same mindset, the same everything, since I was 16 years old.”
All-SEC offensive tackle Trey Zuhn III, who has frequently sparred with Howell in practice, isn’t surprised, either.
“He just has such a great motor,” Zuhn said. “He’s just always going 110 percent, and he’s slippery, too, so, if you’re half a step late, you know, overset him a little bit, he’ll make you pay for it.”
Though Howell could have entered the NFL Draft, he opted for another collegiate season.
Coach Mike Elko said throughout the offseason that it was apparent Howell was working toward an impactful performance this year.
“Kids decide to come back for that last year of school, and some handle it a lot of different ways,” Elko said. “Some come back and they go into ‘coast mode’ and go, 'I’ve been here, done that, been through offseason before.’ They don’t take the work ethic or the practice habits to a level you’d like to see.
“He was just the opposite. He has done this thing as well and as good as you can ever hope for a kid. I think he’s practicing better. He’s preparing better.”
Howell worked hard with strength and conditioning Coach Tommy Moffitt to increase strength and speed.
Those physical gains, along with a better understanding of the defensive scheme in his second year of the program, have obviously paid big dividends for Howell and the A&M defense.
The Aggies are now ranked No. 21 in the nation in total defense. They’re fifth in third-down defense. They’re tied for seventh in sacks.
The defense is good and appears to be getting better. They’ve allowed just 19 points in two SEC games.
“There’s no ceiling,” Howell said. “I feel like as long as we just come every day and continue to have the same work ethic and same mindset that we’ve had up to this point… You know, who knows?”
Indeed, who knows?
This defense, someday, could be remembered among Texas A&M’s greatest.
And Howell, someday, could be remembered among A&M’s greatest sack artists.
He just needs to rush (a little) more.
