Texas A&M Aggies

Von Miller may be as feared as any defensive player when he's on the field, with 30 sacks in 31 career NFL games.

But off the field, he's one of the NFL's quirkiest players.

The bespectacled blitzer, a Texas A&M product, speaks glowingly about poultry science and the chicken industry, can chug Gatorade faster than you, and enjoys sack dances enough to invent his own, the "Desoto Shuffle," named after his hometown in Texas.

Playbook spoke to Miller by phone, while he was in New Orleans for the Super Bowl. As part of the festivities, EA Sports pit Miller against 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree, a longtime friend also from the Dallas area.

Miller discussed "Madden," his own personal Batmobile, and if he could sack Heisman Trophy winner and fellow Aggie Johnny Manziel (whom he also ran into in New Orleans).

How did your game shake out with Crabtree?

The game was getting out of hand. I think Von was on his way to a great win yesterday. I’m trying to stay neutral on the topic because [Crabtree is] not here to defend himself.

You’ve done interviews with us in the past about your favorite games. How much do you play?

If I’m not in the locker room with the guys playing the game, I’m playing video games 24/7. If I’m not playing “Madden,” “FIFA” or “Call of Duty,” I’m probably sleeping. I’m a big-time gamer. All the guys who come over and spend time with me, they become gamers too.

What’s your favorite play to utilize as yourself?

I like to blitz, because I play with the Denver Broncos. I like to get us in [a 4-3] “under” front. It’s a good run-stopping defense. My favorite player would be an "Edge Sting." I’m sending the sam linebacker, and the weak linebacker too. I’ve got the backside A and the frontside C gaps filled, so I think it’s a great play.

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- If there is one word that has been synonymous with Damontre Moore so far this season, it's "consistency."

It's a word that the Texas A&M junior defensive end himself has uttered many times. The same goes for coach Kevin Sumlin when referring to Moore.

The ability that the 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive end has is unquestioned. Whether he can convert that ability into production week in and week out was the big question for the Rowlett (Texas) High School product. Before this season, he wasn't always consistent. Sumlin and the staff made Moore aware of that, hoping he could see that if he found the elusive consistency he could be a premier player.

While the Aggies are only three games into the season, it appears that Moore has heeded the message. He is tied for third in the nation in sacks (six) and tied for sixth nationally in tackles for loss (eight). He has recorded a sack in each of Texas A&M's first three ballgames.

"Damontre is really growing up," Sumlin said. "He’s been a guy who has always had talent. It gets back to -- and I’m going to keep using this word -- consistency. It’s probably our biggest challenge."

Sumlin and the staff challenged Moore, and one of the biggest differences they've seen is how much he has been on the field. He played for 61 snaps in the season opener and 55 in the second game of the season against SMU.

"He would have never done that last year," Sumlin said. "That’s strength and conditioning, but that’s also mental toughness, too. When you become a mature player, you understand that it’s not all about you."

Defensive coordinator Mark Snyder said he has seen Moore mature before his eyes.

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There was a familiar face in Aggieland last week during the Texas state 7-on-7 championships.

Denver Broncos linebacker and former Texas A&M All-American Von Miller stopped by the A&M campus during the state tournament. Miller, who was the no. 2 pick in the 2011 NFL draft and was voted the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year after a 64-tackle, 11.5-sack season, is an Adidas client. Adidas sponsored the 7-on-7 championships and had a large presence, including outfitting all 128 teams with uniforms. It is also the company behind Texas A&M's new uniforms that were unveiled on July 12.

Miller, a DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto High School product, took the time to visit with GigEmNation during his stay at the tournament.

Q: What are your thoughts on the Aggies new uniforms?
A: I actually got a chance to see the uniforms a little earlier than the guys here. I was pretty stoked about it. These days, uniforms are such a big recruiting tool in getting kids. I think they’re pretty cool. I think the kids in high school, the guys that are potentially going to come to A&M, I think they’ll feel the same way too.

Q: How do you feel about the direction things are going so far under new head coach Kevin Sumlin?
A: Coach Sumlin, he’s a great guy. I’ve met him, talked with him a couple of times. I think it was a great thing to bring coach Sumlin in here. Coach (Mike) Sherman was my guy. He got me here, he made me into the football player that I am today, but coach Sumlin he’s a great guy too. He’s able to go into those homes and get those recruits that we need to take this program to the next level. A lot of kids can relate to him, he’s a young coach, a smart coach and I think with coach Sumlin on staff, hopefully we can get the football program dominant in the SEC.

Q: What do you feel like the Aggies' membership in the Southeastern Conference will do for the program?
A: We don’t have to share recruits with that other school across the state. We’re the only SEC school in the state of Texas and I think that’ll be a huge recruiting tool for guys in the Dallas area and Houston area. I think us being in the SEC, it’ll really bring some big time players to A&M.

Q: With all the new things - coaches, athletic director, uniforms, etc., is it an exciting time to be associated with the school?
A: It’s been an exciting time at A&M. We’re different from any other school out there. Guys here at A&M are doing a great job of building a school and building a program. We're just trying to win championships here and I think the direction we're taking this team and taking this program, we're headed that direction.

Q: What is it like being back on campus?
A: It always feels great to be back here in Aggieland and to see some of the new stuff that's going on. I see some of the things that we're doing and to where we're taking this university. It's a great time to be in Aggieland and I'm happy to be here.

Q: How has your offseason been?
A: My offseason has been great. The first part of offseason, I did a lot of working out, just trying to get my body in shape. These last couple, four-to-five weeks have just been relaxing, trying to get my body and my bones ready for this long season that's right around the corner. From August all the way to January, it's pretty strenuous on the body.

Q: What are your thoughts on how last season went in your first year?
A: I think last season was great. We won a lot of games, we went on a big long streak right in the middle of the season. Tim Tebow did a lot of great things for us. We were able to get a Hall-of-Fame player in Peyton Manning (in the offseason). He feels like a coach sometimes. We have a Hall-of-Fame player on defense too in Champ Bailey. So we feel like every other team in the National Football League; we want to win a Super Bowl too. We just have to take it one day at a time and hopefully we can give Bronco fans and Bronco Nation something to cheer about.

Q: Is there a different feeling now with Manning on the team?
A: It's just my second year so everything is new for me. I'm a rookie still until four games in. I'm just taking it one day at a time. Peyton Manning is the ultimate pro. The way he comes in every day and carries himself, the way he works, is really something to watch. He's a perfect example for us young guys on the team.