The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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60 THE WOLVERINE AUGUST 2021 COMMITMENT PROFILE T he recruitment of Micah Pollard was a bit of a whirlwind. A three-star outside linebacker from Jacksonville (Fla.) Bartram Trail, Pollard was considered a Michigan lean for most of the cycle. In fact, he was expected to pull the trigger and opt for the Wolverines during his of- ficial visit on June 4. However, Pollard left Ann Arbor without a decision. That opened the door for Auburn to get him on cam- pus and take command of his recruit- ment. Michigan was able to battle back and swing the pendulum again, ultimately earning his commitment in the middle of July. "The Michigan community wanted me really bad," Pollard said. "They have a great program up there and a great education. It seems like they have a lot to offer." Pollard is the nephew of former Michigan great Braylon Edwards, who was one of college football's most dominant wide receivers in the early 2000s. His father, Marcus Pollard, played with Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts. While connections to the Michigan program were strong, it was new line- backers coach George Helow — a fel- low Jacksonville native — that really made the difference in his recruitment. "He's really cool," Pollard said. "It's really fun talking to him. He gets to the point. He's real with you. He's just a cool coach and a good person. It's good to know that there is someone from Jacksonville at Michigan. He is someone I can have a connection with." Bartram Trail assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Chad Parker, who has known Helow for several years, shared similar sentiments. "Honestly, if it wasn't for George Helow, I don't know that Micah goes to Michigan," Parker said. "His cousin goes to Auburn, so he had a draw there. He was leaning Auburn for a little bit. But Helow was relentless. He would call me five or six times a day. "There is a difference between be- ing a recruit and being recruited. Michigan did a great job of recruiting him. If I didn't answer, he would call back five minutes later. "I told Micah, 'There are schools you're high on that I haven't spoken to since the day they called to offer you.' I talked to Michigan at least three or four times a week. That's just me. I don't know how many times they called Micah and his dad. It was all led by Helow." A versatile prospect, Pollard was recruited for the Buck linebacker po- sition, but has a chance to play mul- tiple spots in Mike Macdonald's new 3-4 defensive scheme. "[Macdonald] said he sees me playing all over the field," Pollard said. "He said he can see me being a pass rusher, but also someone that can cover and play in the box. We went on a Zoom, and he showed me how he would utilize my abilities. I play a mix at Bartram." Pollard started off his high school career as a safety, but has since tran- sitioned into an edge rusher role with the flexibility to move around. Pol- lard can create havoc while getting after the quarterback, but he also has the athleticism to cover in space. "He has a high motor and plays with high energy," Parker said. "He's very confident in what he's doing because he has a high football IQ. He has a grasp on the defense and understands what everybody else is doing, so he can create. We give him a lot of freedom. We don't give him too many assignments. He makes us look smart sometimes." The 6-3, 200-pound Pollard is listed as the No. 64 prospect in Florida and the No. 39 outside linebacker nation- ally by Rivals.com. — EJ Holland Florida Linebacker Micah Pollard Will Bring Versatility To U-M Rivals.com ranks Pollard — the nephew of former Michigan great Braylon Edwards — as the No. 64 prospect in the Sunshine State and the No. 39 outside linebacker in the country. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM Pollard "The Michigan community wanted me really bad. They have a great program up there and a great education. It seems like they have a lot to offer." PLAYER EVALUATION Strengths: Micah Pollard has a ton of versatility and flexibility. As mentioned, he was recruited as an edge rusher but has the ability to play more of a tradi- tional outside linebacker role or even an inside backer role depending on how his body develops. He does a great job of diagnosing plays and using his high football IQ to his advantage. He has tremendous bloodlines as both his father, Marcus Pollard, and uncle, Braylon Edwards, played in the NFL. He grew up around the game and has a high floor. Areas Of Improvement: Pollard played last season at just 195 pounds. He has since bulked up to just a tad more than 200, but in order to excel as a linebacker in the Big Ten he must add more weight to his lanky frame. He isn't afraid of contact, but he does need to hit the weight room and add more power to his game. He isn't necessarily the most explosive athlete, but he makes up for it with his smarts and instincts. Michigan Player Comparison: Anthony Solomon is a prospect that arrived at Michigan at less than 200 pounds but is coming along from a development standpoint. Solomon was originally recruited to be a Viper but now has flexibility in Mike Macdonald's scheme. Pollard has a similar build with more height and offers the same type of versatility. — EJ Holland