From College Station to Canton: Texas A&M pipeline produces NFL DPOY winners

USA Today

04-07-2025

When it comes to defensive talent wreaking havoc against offenses in the National Football League, Texas A&M is well-represented.
Players such as Myles Garrett, Lester Hayes and Von Miller are just a few of the elite former Aggies who made their mark in the pros after representing the Maroon and White in College Station. Not only have they succeeded in the league, but several have racked up a string of accomplishments that have placed them among the NFL's all-time greats.
Texas A&M is one of just 12 FBS schools to produce an NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, which is presented to the league's best and most productive defensive player each year. The Aggies are tied with the Tennessee Volunteers as the only Southeastern Conference schools to bring home two awards.
Lester Hayes - DB - Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders (1977-1986)
Hayes was the first Aggie to secure the award, leading the league with 13 interceptions during the 1980 regular season. That total tied him for the second-most INTs in a single season in NFL history, as he anchored the Raiders' defensive unit and helped lead them to a dominant 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV.
He also finished the season with one pick-six, two forced fumbles, five interceptions in the postseason and one INT in the Super Bowl to complete a legendary year with the Raiders. Though he wore silver and black, Hayes' Maroon and White roots ran deep.
After a short stint as a defensive end during his freshman season in College Station, Hayes transitioned to linebacker and then safety. In 1975, he emerged as one of the nation's premier defensive backs. Known for his tenacious play and elite vision on the gridiron, he recorded 14 career interceptions, which was a school record that stood untouched for 14 years.
Myles Garrett - DE - Cleveland Browns (2017-Current)
Hayes paved the way for future defensive superstars like Garrett, who currently plays defensive end for the Cleveland Browns. Through eight seasons in the NFL, he has already established himself as a talent who wreaks havoc and causes opposing teams nightmares.
In 34 games played for the Aggies, Garrett recorded 141 tackles, including 47 tackles-for-loss, 31 sacks (Texas A&M record), seven forced fumbles and five pass deflections. He was voted a First-Team All-SEC member and a unanimous All-American in 2016, which led to Garrett being picked No. 1 overall by the Browns in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Since entering the league, he has been a force to be reckoned with. With 116 career tackles-for-loss, 88.5 career sacks and 15 forced fumbles, Garrett's freakish athleticism has well-earned his stripes as a future NFL Hall of Famer.
He won his DPOY award in 2023 as he led the Browns with 42 total tackles and recorded 17 TFL. Garrett also posted 14 sacks during the campaign, which was tied for seventh-most in the league. He became the only player in NFL history to record more than 14 sacks or more in four consecutive seasons.
The five-time Pro Bowler returns for his ninth season with the Browns in 2025 as the highest-paid defensive player in the league. Garrett signed a contract extension with the Browns in June, which averages $40 million per year and guarantees him $123.5 million.
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