Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell named SEC Defensive Player of the Year
By Rolando Rosa
Published:
Texas A&M is in the College Football Playoff in large part because of the play of defensive end Cashius Howell. So it’s only fitting that the senior is earning from individual hardware before the postseason.
On Wednesday, Howell was selected as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
This comes after he was named a finalist for the Lombardi Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award. This season, Howell has tallied an SEC-leading 11.5 sacks along with 14 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Additionally, Howell is No. 2 in the country in pass breakups (6) for defensive ends.
Howell notched a season-high 3 sacks in Texas A&M’s 44-22 victory vs. Utah State on Sept. 6. The most sacks Howell had in an SEC game was 2.5 in the 31-9 win against Mississippi State on Oct. 4.
This is Howell’s second season with Texas A&M after transferring from Bowling Green. It’s been a dramatic increase in play compared to 2024, when Howell amassed four sacks. For his college career, Howell has recorded 124 total tackles, 27 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and an interception.
Also, Texas A&M’s Trey Zuhn III was 1 of 2 winners of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy. Texas A&M will host Miami in a CFP first-round matchup on Dec. 20 (noon ET, ABC).
