Freshman Fackrell already playing like a superstar

Usually with freshman, the talk at this point of the year is about them showing flashes of excellence that gives a bright spot for the future. Freshman usually have some holes in their game that need patching up, and it seems that for each standout performance, there's another one that is more or less a no-show.

Kyler Fackrell hasn't played this season like a freshman. Even though he's still technically a freshman linebacker, Fackrell has already stepped his game up to a veteran level midway through this season.

Saturday's game at San Jose State was the second consecutive game with 10+ tackles for Fackrell and his third double-digit tackle game of the season. Throw in his two sacks, a pass break-up, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and the fact that his performance was easily the best statistical performance in the conference this weekend, it was a no-brainer for Fackrell to repeat as the WAC's Defensive Player of the Week. And to make things even more impressive, all three of Fackrell's double-digit tackle games have come in big ones against Utah, BYU and San Jose State. 


Now, through only seven games, Fackrell has put up numbers that would be plenty to brag about for any player's entire freshman year. For the season, he's already racked up 47 tackles, three TFLs, two sacks, one interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

For comparison's sake, let's look at the entire freshman seasons of a handful other notable linebackers at USU in recent years.

2011: Tavaris McMillian - 45 tackles, 7.5 TFL
2010: Jake Doughty     -    22 tackles, 1 TFL
2008: Bobby Wagner   -    51 tackles, 2 TFL, 
2007: Kyle Gallagher  -   47 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 2 forced fumbles
2006: Paul Igboeli     -     69 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
2005: Jake Hutton     -     87 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery

With five more regular season games and an almost guarantee of another bowl game this season, just by keeping up the pace he's already been on would put Fackrell's total tackles as tops on this list. Based on his domination in the last two games, it seems safe to believe that he'll end up ahead of the pace set through the season so far.

But even aside from statistics, Fackrell is just a force on the football field. His speed and size coming around the edge, even when he's not sacking quarterbacks or stuffing the run, is imposing enough to disrupt things for opposing offenses. That aspect alone would be a welcomed addition to the equation for most any freshman. Throw in the fact that he's flying around, making plays and racking up stats, Fackrell's got a name that Aggie fans are going to want and need to know for the coming years.

Time to take notice if you haven't already.