Hello: Myles Pollard
Myles Pollard, CB from Tennessee commits to UM!
Here is a run down for those unfamiliar:
CB, 6'-2", 185 lbs - Ravenwood - Brentwood, TN
Composite Ranking: 3* Recruit, #431 Overall, #39 DB, #16 in Tennessee
Noteworthy Offer List: Michigan, Auburn, Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, Penn State, Oregon.
How did we get here?
Long, rangy, physical DB that caught the attention of Michigan when they went to scout his former teammate, current Michigan LB Junior Colson. He's been a top target ever since with many expecting his ranking to bump up to possibly top 200 by the end of the cycle (based on his offer list). Hiring of Clinkscale, who Pollard has said he has the best relationship with, might have been what sealed the deal.
What does it mean for the rest of the 2022 class?
With 5* Will Johnson, 4* Kody Jones, and Myles Pollard, the CB board looks to be pretty full. Will and Myles are both boundary corners and Jones can fit in a variety of spots along the secondary. Focus will turn to two California prospects, 3* Jahlil Florence and 5* Domani Jackson (currently committed to USC but will take a visit to UM). Another commitment from Tennessee also can't hurt the recruitment of #2 overall player Walter Nolen...
Helpful links:
https://247sports.com/player/myles-pollard-46085804/
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9566173/5f4162d57bd2e60a68101f24
FYI from Sam Webb's write up:
With his own recruitment now officially behind him, Pollard plans to take a page out of Johnson’s book and work hard to lure others into the fold. He already has a few primary targets in mind.
“Number one is Walter Nolen,” he said. “That's who I feel like we need to try to pull in. And then D'Arco Perkins-McAllister. He's from Nashville as well. Those two I really know for sure.
Time to raid Tennessee.
(MOD, please delete if not allowed)
Walter Nolen would be a fair trade for that guy we lost last week to the Vols
Man Pollard works fast ?
And then D'Arco Perkins-McAllister
That could happen. It would be a miracle to get Nolen in though.
The sideways baseball cap on top of the headband is an interesting choice.
Still think blue pants with the white jersey would look awesome.
I agree. Much better than the maize pants. Also, user name checks out somewhat.
Nice Pickup! Offer list suggest he will get a bump up in the rankings soon. Potentially three 4* recruits at a position in need of an infusion of talent is huge.
4*or higher
Stars are nice. But Steve Clinkscale really like this player. So I'm going by that.
Hip hip
Jorge!
Was never a Yankees fan but I thought that commercial ESPN did with Jorge Posada was absolutely hilarious.
Get to work, Steve.
Welcome, Myles!
No Fly Zone 2022.
O LET DO IT!
Another kid where the offer list far outpaces the rankings. Pollard became a national recruit partly because of how well he did against IMG’s 5-star receivers in a game last season. Big pickup at a position of great need
Yeah - has been said by several folks before (including Seth?) but Miles stood out as the best - or at least most notable - player on defense for his team when he and Junior played JJ and his IMG squad on national TV last year.
(No offense to Junior - think he was still possibly underrated at #89 overall)
Has Sam or anyone said why Myles Pollard hasn't gotten a new eval? 247 is the lowest on him as Rivals already has him as a 4*.
More of an Allen Trieu question but i'd guess it's the lack of evaluation due to Covid. Trieu has mentioned in the past that they rely on camps to get verified 40 times etc that contribute to the final evals. The recruiting rankings this year are all behind the evaluations made by coaching staffs so looking at an offer list is more indicative at this point at the caliber of the player. Pollard's offer sheet and film screams top 200 player. Might just not have the verified measurables yet.
THREEEEEEEE STAR MAFIA, mount up
Gotta enjoy the three starredness before he gets a ratings bump.
Welcome Myles!
If Alabama was on his offer list, that's good enough for me.
Alabama is focusing on two 5 Stars right now.
I love me some tall cornerbacks. Good get.
Welcome, Wolverine!
July is looking like a great month to be a Michigan Wolverine!
OP, you win the day. Seth didn't have his prewritten front page story ready to drop today or he was indisposed.
Welcome Myles!
GO BLUE!
Maybe he's listening to The Smiths with Brian.
Now that’s funny right there....
I assume the lack of content is related to both of them working hard to finish up HTTV. Personally I think it would've made sense to just skip it this year. I've gotten it every year it's been out, but not really interested this year due to lack of info, as well as Brian's extreme cynicism/pessimism about the football team.
And perhaps a gap year would break the HTTV cover page jinx
Brilliant post! And welcome Myles!
That's a big pick up right there! Obviously his ranking to the recruiting services has not caught up yet with his offer sheet; I anticipate he'll be in the Top 300 in the final '22 rankings.
Welcome aboard Myles! Very excited to have him in the class, he's a great compliment to Will in our 2022 CB class.
Gonna be lots of opportunity for young corners to get playing time.
Maybe. A lot of guys ahead of them still and Gray/Green will still have eligibility remaining when he arrives on campus. Guys like Seldon, Green-Warren, Perry, and Turner will all have multiple years in the program to go along with having recruiting hype.
Not impossible but corner isn’t some gaping hole that some people seem to believe. They were very young and inexperienced last year and that contributed to some poor play, while I also don’t think playing a ton of man really fits the skill set of Green or Gray.
Agreed. I do think specifically Turner/Green have the potential to still be higher level B1G starters yet in their career. Of the small tidbits we got out spring football, one of them is that Green is far and away the team's best corner at this point - Gray/Turner are going to battle it out for the other starting spot. Seldon I think can project eventually into the starting slot corner/nickel spot perhaps by year 3.
Johnson obviously projects to come in and join the playing rotation right away. Pollard may get a RS year to add strength/experience at the college level unless the cornerback position is still a smoldering crater because the guys ahead of him have not developed. Clickscale's track record suggests he can develop prospects of a similar profile as Green/Gray/GW/Seldon/Turner into draftable NFL talent, so I think it's fair to expect development of at least some capacity.
Either way, Pollard is an excellent, underrated pickup (assuming you would also agree) and I'd project him into the starting lineup at some point in his career!
Edit: I should have mentioned McBurrough's here as well. Hard to project really where he ends up, but he looks like a legit prospect and I know the (old) staff really likes him. He may battle it out with Seldon for PT since he seems to fit more inside in this defense.
For sure. There’s a lot of talent in the cupboard at corner and Pollard fits in nicely. But it will be difficult to get that early playing time with much more experienced and equally touted talent here by the time he arrives on campus.
I’d expect Pollard to make an impact at some point, but the “Gonna be lots of opportunity for young corners to get playing time,” might not be so accurate.
I think far too often fans will get caught up in what the roster looks like right now and what needs improvement on the current team instead of looking ahead to what the roster is going to look like 2-3 years later.
Excellent post, thanks amigo!
Florence recently named a Top 3 of Michigan, Oregon, and Washington. I think Michigan has the edge for now, though he is yet to officially visit Oregon and Washington..
Also Ja'Kobi Albert (3* ATH from Alabama, but 4* WR on Rivals, though probably a safety for us) named his Top 3 of Michigan, Maryland, and Auburn. Albert was recently crystal balled to Kentucky which was a surprising omission from the top group. Auburn would be our toughest competition in my estimation, and they probably hold the lead currently.
Ja'Kobi Albert just got a Crystal Ball for Michigan from a Maryland chap a moment ago.
Sam Webb also just dropped a crystal ball for 3* ATH Deuce Spurlock.
That is an awesome name. Do want.