Givens Becomes Southern's All-Time Sack Leader
Southern defensive end Ckelby Givens set the school's career sack record in a 41-28 win over Alcorn State.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Football
Ckelby Givens became Southern University's all-time sack leader after recording two sacks in a 41-28 victory over Alcorn State. Givens now has 37 career sacks and is half a sack away from breaking Michael Strahan's SWAC career record.
Why it matters
The milestone places Givens within reach of one of the conference's most storied defensive marks, a record held by a player who later reached the NFL. Southern, now 6-5 this season after a 2-10 campaign in 2025, gains a recognizable individual achievement in a turnaround year.
Givens has 31 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss totaling 63 yards, 7 sacks for 45 yards, 2 forced fumbles and 3 quarterback hits this season. He needs one half-sack to break Michael Strahan's SWAC career sack record of 41.5 set from 1989 to 1992.
The players
Ckelby Givens
Ckelby Givens is a Southern University defensive lineman who set the school's all-time career sack record.
Michael Strahan
Michael Strahan is a former Texas Southern defensive end and NFL Hall of Famer who holds the SWAC career sack record and was drafted by the New York Giants.
The details
Givens recorded three tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss in the win over Alcorn State. The Southern defensive unit kept Alcorn State from taking control of the game.
Timeline
Strahan accumulated 41.5 career sacks at Texas Southern from 1989 to 1992.
The New York Giants drafted Strahan 40th overall in the 1993 NFL Draft.
Givens set the Southern career sack record on Saturday, November 14, 2026.
Givens plays Grambling State in the Bayou Classic on November 28, 2026.
Season Trajectory
Givens' pursuit of Strahan's SWAC mark gives Southern a individual storyline in a season that has moved the program from 2-10 in 2025 to 6-5 now. The Bayou Classic against Grambling State on November 28 is the next chance for Givens to complete the chase.
Givens needs half a sack to tie or pass Strahan's SWAC record, which could matter for fans tracking the conference's career leaders. His seven sacks this season also make him a notable pass-rush option for anyone following Southern's defense through the final game.
The takeaway
Individual records in college football often turn on a few plays in a single game, and Givens' milestone shows how a steady season of pressure can build toward a conference mark. Tracking the Bayou Classic will show whether he reaches Strahan's SWAC total.
What happens next
Givens faces Grambling State in the Bayou Classic on November 28, 2026, where he has a chance to break Michael Strahan's SWAC career sack record.
Further reading
Explore more Football coverage from Baton Rouge for context on the Southern program.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ClutchPoints.
