SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -Notre Dame defensive end Victor Abiamiri remembers joking with Justin Tuck two years ago about breaking his school record for sacks.

``I'd be trash talking to him, 'Oh you have the record but I'm going to break it,''' Abiamiri said.

Abiamiri had just three sacks at the time and didn't appear to be any threat to Tuck's Notre Dame career record of 24 1/2. Even five games into this season, Abiamiri didn't appear to be much of a threat with 13 total. But Abiamiri has had eight in the past four games, placing him fourth in the nation in sacks per game, and with 21 total, he is square on the heels of his former teammate.

Abiamiri credits the increased production to his teammates. He said other teams are worrying more about defensive tackles Trevor Laws and Derek Landri, so he is being double-teamed less often. Coach Charlie Weis credits Abiamiri's success to his relentlessness.

``He has a very, very, very high motor that goes with his athletic ability,'' Weis said. ``There are a lot of people with athletic ability that don't have a high motor, and he goes high on every play.''

Weis, who calls the plays for the ninth-ranked Irish (8-1), knows that firsthand because he sees it daily.

``He's a pain in the butt in practice now,'' Weis said.

Quarterback Brady Quinn said he likes to taunt Abiamiri at practice because he wants to make sure the Irish offensive line is being challenged in practice. He also does it because Abiamiri is such an easy target.

``He has horrible comebacks,'' Quinn said.

Weis said NFL scouts attending Notre Dame practices are always asking about Abiamiri.

``I see him definitely as a first-day guy, hopefully a first-round guy,'' Weis said. ``Everyone who comes in here talking about him, I give him a ringing endorsement.''

Abiamiri is sixth on the team in tackles with 36 - including 14 1/2 for losses. He also has a team-high 12 quarterback hurries. Those might be hard to come by this week at Air Force (4-4), which runs the option and averages just 9.5 pass attempts a game. But Abiamiri had two sacks two weeks ago against Navy, which threw only seven passes all game.

Although he's a menace on the football field, Quinn describes Abiamiri as someone who is a lot of fun to be around.

``He's one of those big, mean guys that really doesn't like to be mean,'' Quinn said. ``I think that's why he kind of likes playing football, because he's able to go out there on the field and dish it out on the field and be happy.''

Abiamiri said the thing he's working on heading into the final games of his college career is being as consistent as possible.

``Causing havoc on every single play, whether it's messing up a blocking scheme or beating my blocker, or getting a sack or putting pressure on the quarterback,'' he said. ``Just trying to be a factor on every play.''

Abiamiri said he talks from time to time with Tuck, who is playing for the New York Giants, but never mentions the sack record or the fact he is closing in.

``I'm not going to saying anything to him unless I actually do it,'' he said. ``Then I'm going to let him know. I'll definitely let him know.''

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