Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett sets goals: 20 sacks, No. 1 NFL draft pick

HOOVER, Ala. -- Myles Garrett is already near the top of most NFL draft boards for 2017, and Texas A&M's junior defensive end wants it that way. The SEC leader in sacks last year wasn't afraid to say that he wants to be the top overall draft pick.

"Of course [I do]," he told ESPN on Tuesday at SEC media days. "Who doesn't?"

But Garrett's belief in himself doesn't stop there. His No. 1 goal for this season: 20 sacks.

If he surpasses his goal by four, he would match the current record-holder: former Arizona State defensive end Terrell Suggs, who had 24 sacks in 2002. Sacks weren't an official NCAA stat at the time, but former Alabama star Derrick Thomas is credited with 27 sacks in 1988.

Asked whether such a big number was doable, Garrett said, "Absolutely."

"I have to live up to my expectations," he said, "which is to break all the records that I can, dominate by a wide margin. Let it be unanimous. Don't let anyone be close to how good you are, no matter what the division is -- one, two or three. It doesn't matter, everyone plays football. It doesn't matter who the competition is."

Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight and wide receiver Ricky Seals-Jones both described Garrett, a first-team All-America selection, as a "freak of nature." And neither batted an eye at his goal of 20 sacks.

"That's his personal goal," Knight said. "I personally think he can get it. Absolutely. I saw the way that, this spring, when I was in the middle of my drop, he was already on me. It was incredible. So if he puts his mind to it, I think he can do anything he wants."

Said Seals-Jones: "Twenty sacks? I think Myles can do whatever he pushes his mind to. He's just a freak of nature. If Myles says he can get 20, he can get 20."

Garrett and the Aggies open the 2016 season against UCLA on Sept. 3 at Kyle Field.