Texas A&M football: 30 greatest players of all-time
By Jeff Shull
Stats – 181 tackles, 50.5 tackles for loss, 33 sacks, seven forced fumbles, one interception
Accolades – 2009 and 2010 First-Team All-American, 2009 and 2010 First-Team All-Big 12, 2007 Freshman All-Big 12
Team signature moment – Beating the Texas Longhorns, the Oklahoma Sooners and the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the same season (first team to ever do that)
If it weren’t for Von Miller being criminally misused for the first two seasons of his college career, as well as an ankle injury that hampered him for the first half of his senior season, he might have been the top player on this list.
Based on his success in the NFL alone, he could be higher on this list. However, this is list is supposed to be about their Aggie careers, not what they would go on to do at the next level (more on this later).
After playing linebacker in a 4-3 for two years, Joe Kines switched it up and employed more of a 3-4 system, which allowed Miller to use his pass-rushing skills. He exploded onto the scene as a junior, finishing with 21.5 tackles for loss (fifth in the country) and 17 sacks (first in the country).
He would go on to have 10.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss as a senior, all the while dealing with the previously mentioned high ankle sprain. Maybe his signature moment in Aggieland was stopping the Oklahoma Sooners’ DeMarco Murray on fourth down for a goal-line stand to win the game?
His only interception sealed the victory against the Texas Longhorns that same season. He was honored as a First-Team All-American in 2009 and 2010.
Miller would go on to be the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. Now known for his pass-rushing ability, he truly thrived. Miller has been named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams in every year except 2013. He is also the only Aggie to ever win Super Bowl MVP, taking home that honor in Super Bowl 50, as the Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers.