SAN DIEGO — San Diego State football has the best pass rusher statistically in the NCAA with Aztecs edge rusher Trey White leading the nation in sacks.
His goal was 10 for the season. He already has 11.5 in just seven games.
"I'm not going to lie, I didn't even think that was even possible to get that in [seven] games," White said. "But now my mindset has shifted to accelerate and make a new goal and try to challenge myself to get there."
Originally his new goal was 20 sacks. That was until he was informed that 21 sacks was the school record set by Mike Douglass in 1976.
"I guess it is 21 now," he said with a laugh.
Prior to this season, he hadn't recorded any sacks as a true freshman or in his redshirt freshman year. Now as a redshirt sophomore, he is a monster to opposing offenses.
San Diego State quarterback Danny O'Neil sees how good White has been in their own team's drills.
"Yeah whenever we are doing some drop back stuff, play action, he is always in the backfield," O'Neil said. "The way he practices is the way he plays and it shows with the 10 or 11 sacks he has on the year."
Three games ago against Hawaii, he had three sacks and four tackles for loss. White believes stat lines like those should be common for him,
"I feel like that is the standard since I've done it so many times," White said. " If I don't do that then I just beat myself up on it because I am my biggest critic."
He has not only set high expectations for himself, but he also takes a lot of pride in being from San Diego and wants this team to accomplish big things.
"That means so much to me to be a captain of this team," White said. "It felt surreal in the moment but now it is time to get to work. We are 2-0 in conference. We have to keep that rolling and keep that going. We still have big goals to win a Mountain West championship and make it to the playoffs so you never know."
White also leads the NCAA D-I in tackles for loss with 15.5. He has been added to the Bednarik Award midseason list, which is the award given to the nation's most outstanding defensive player. He also was named a midseason All-American by several outlets.
The Aztecs need White to be a monster on Friday fi they want to pick up a big upset win. SDSU is on the road to take on 15th-ranked Boise State.