× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

HOUSTON -- Texas A&M wasn’t an easy sell to defensive end Myles Garrett, Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin said.

Sumlin said he and his coaching staff worked hard to pull Garrett, the five-star standout from Arlington High, away from his initial top pick – Ohio State.

“He wanted to go somewhere else early, but we had to convince him that A&M was the best place for him and mom and dad helped during that time,” Sumlin said.

Garrett said he initially liked Ohio State because of its Earth sciences degree, which offered a focus in paleontology. Garrett’s love for dinosaurs started as a youth watching the movie Jurassic Park on loop.

Luckily for Sumlin his top recruiter in the chase for Garrett was not on his staff.

Garrett’s sister, Brea, a track and field student-athlete at Texas A&M during her brother’s recruitment, often fed information on the blue-chip recruit to Sumlin, the head coach said.

On the flip side, Brea gave her brother the real look at Texas A&M through the eyes of a student-athlete sans the flowery sales pitch from the program’s coaches. That inside glance sold the future unanimous All-American.