Just seven games into his first season of college football, defensive end Myles Garrett already has a personal favorite post-sack celebration:

The Archer.

Before pointing to the sky and launching an imaginary arrow from his maroon and white bow, Garrett’s has routinely dominated the tackle in front of him this season, using a combination of speed and bull rush tactics to compile 7.5 sacks for Mark Snyder’s defense.

On pace to become Texas A&M’s first pass rusher with double-digit sacks since 2012, the kid with the Hulk-sized arms is most importantly one sack away from breaking 2014 No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney’s SEC freshman record of 8.0 set at South Carolina three seasons ago.

Once Garrett passes Clowney, he’ll still have a ways to go before breaking Von Miller’s single-season school record of 17 posted in 2009.

“(Myles) is a very talented young man obviously, from his time in high school and recruiting, to be the No. 1 DE in the country as a prospect,” said Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin. “I think that he is extremely explosive, he’s very, very gifted naturally. We’re working on his technique, which is something that all young guys are going to do.”

Judging by the pace, Garrett could set the record on Saturday at Alabama, but the Crimson Tide’s given up just six sacks all season, tied for second-fewest in the SEC.

Chasing Clowney (through seven games as true freshmen)

  • Clowney, 2011: 5.0 sacks
  • Garrett, 2014: 7.5 sacks

Garrett got off to a fast start with 5.5 sacks in his first three games (at South Carolina, Lamar, Rice), but has cooled off a bit since, registering just two sacks in his last four outings.

Like Clowney, the freak off the edge has struggled a bit during the adjustment period in run support and isn’t an every down player just yet.

Teams have found ways to nullify his presence with additional personnel rubbing him off the snap, frustrating the Arlington native who is used to dominating nearly every game of his football career.

“We sat him down a couple weeks ago to explain to him that’s the best compliment you could have when you have running backs or tight ends chipping you on the way out and sliding to you; that’s good,” Sumlin said. “He’s kind of gone through that phase of it. Right now is a hard time for all talented freshmen that have been starting midway through the season, particularly in this league.

“He’s still very, very young, he’s raw, he’s getting better, and over the course of time he’s going to pick up some weight and get stronger.”

He’s best in pursuit, using precise closing speed to annihilate opposing quarterbacks. Ole Miss’ Bo Wallace found that out the hard way on the Rebels’ first possession last week after Garrett split left guard Aaron Morris and tackle Laremy Tunsil on 3rd-and-8 at midfield for a 12-yard loss.

“He is a phenomenal talent, really quick-twitched,” said Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze. “He’s got some good pass-rush moves that he’s worked on in his craft.”