On the stage of grueling competition, where the stakes are high and only those with exceptional abilities perform under crippling pressures, elite athletes stand high above their competitors — monoliths of physicality that looms above the field. Doubt and criticism is ignored, replaced with a confidence in oneself that ascends anything we can understand — a superhero mentality that peers into the face of antagonistic dismissal and proves the negativity is unmerited.
For all the recent skepticism that Myles Garrett should be selected with the No. 1 at the NFL Draft, the Aggies standout silenced the naysayers, delivering through adversity and posting eye-popping numbers that proved his worth as a high selection. The pass rusher accelerated to a 4.64 second time for the 40-yard dash, racked up 33 repetitions on the bench press and leapt to a 41-inch vertical — stats that will make it very difficult for Cleveland to ignore calling his name come April.
I was amongst the crowd questioning Garrett’s merits as the top guy in the Draft, but interviewing him at the Combine changed my view. From the start, he charmed the clustered media with clever retorts, claiming that he wanted to sack Tom Brady because he was a Peyton Manning fan; scoffed that he would never dip pizza in milk; shook off that he wasn’t a nice guy on the field, because he didn’t want to be smiling at people when he tackled them — something I wish he actually did, since that would be the most intimidating strategy on the field.
It was the intangibles that really impressed: the unspoken self-assurance that Garrett had, the way he controlled a room and vocalized why he was the absolute best player in the draft. The competitor in him desires the achievement, but it wouldn’t define his legacy.
“(The pick) shows I’m top dog at least from the beginning,” Garrett admitted, but immediately digressed. “Once I’m in the NFL, I can’t just hang my hat on that. I gotta keep rising.”
Garrett was a pass-rushing stud with A&M, garnering 31 sacks through explosive speed from the line of scrimmage. Concerns spread about his tendency to take off plays, intent on watching the action rather than participating. Last season, he succumbed to a lower leg injury that barred him from the field for a majority of games, aggravating it later in the year when a teammates collapsed into it during practice.
“I feel like theres plays I should have made or plays i should have done better, but hindsight is 20/20,” Garrett admitted, addressing the criticism of sometimes appearing lackadaisical on the field. “Looking at that… maybe thinking through some situations differently and making some different plays.
“Nobody’s 100% every play eight-nine plays down the drive. But sometimes you do look back at it and say maybe I could have given more effort right there… but you work on those things.”
Garrett’s physical attributes were daunting in person. To accurately describe it, here is how NFL Draft Profile describes the prospect:
“Chiseled physique with functional strength, and not just beach muscles. Bigger than people think.”
I’m not sure about the questionable beach muscles comparison, but the man is a monster, possessing the kind of body that most teams salivate over. However, does Cleveland really need him? Not necessarily, the Browns need a quarterback like a religious devotee needs salvation. With that said, Garrett’s measurements are nearly identical to Jadeveon Clowney — the former No. 1 who excelled in a Houston Texans defense that ranked first in total defense. The Browns need help at nearly every facet of the game; Garrett could be a useful building block towards constructing that turnaround.
Regardless of whatever team picks up the former Arlington Martin transplant, Garrett credits his upbringing as a chief reason for his ascent into the upper echelons of Draft glory.
“(Arlington Martin) instilled in me work ethic that I don’t think many others have. They said be comfortable in uncomfortable zones. You got to get out of your comfort zone to become a great player.”
A great NFL player remains to be seen, but Garrett definitely excelled at both the high school and collegiate level; he will likely continue to impress in an orange and white uniform next season. As the NFL Draft Profile states, his “pass-rush production and athletic traits point toward an all-pro career.”
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