Tag: Micah Pollard

2023 Season Countdown: #57 Micah Pollard

Name: Micah Pollard
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 206 lbs.
High school: Jacksonville (FL) Bartram Trail
Position: Linebacker
Class: Sophomore
Jersey number: #4
Last year: I ranked Pollard #95 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He played in twelve games and made 8 tackles.
TTB Rating: 74

The expectations for Pollard were a little bit up in the air going into 2022. He was light at 200 pounds and Michigan didn’t have a strong need for a bunch of new contributions from linebackers. I expected him to redshirt for those reasons, but he surprisingly played in twelve games – mostly on special teams, but in four games at linebacker. So he burned his redshirt, which is usually a clue that the coaching staff likes a player.

The 2023 season will be an interesting one for him. Sam Webb recently pegged Pollard as someone that Michigan fans aren’t talking enough about when it comes to playing time for 2023, but I’m not sure where he fits. Junior Colson is expected to start, with Jimmy Rolder or Ernest Hausmann or Michael Barrett taking the other inside linebacker spot. Pollard is also light, so maybe he’s not an inside linebacker . . . but there’s not a ton of room for a 206 lb. non-nickel on the field. If Michigan needs a nickel, they’ll probably go with a safety type. So I don’t necessarily buy the idea that Pollard will play much of a role on defense, but he should be a regular special teams contributor once again in 2023.

Prediction: Backup linebacker and special teamer

2022 Season Countdown: #95 Micah Pollard

Name: Micah Pollard
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 200 lbs.
High school: Jacksonville (FL) Bartram Trail
Position: Linebacker
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Pollard was a senior in high school (LINK).
TTB Rating: 74

Pollard committed to Michigan in July of last year. Unrelated to cornerback signee Myles Pollard, Micah is, however, related to a much more famous Pollard: former Indianapolis Colts tight end Marcus Pollard. Marcus is Micah’s father and played with Jim Harbaugh for the Colts back in ye olden days. Micah fielded offers from Auburn, Ole Miss, Penn State, and South Carolina, among others, before committed to the Wolverines. He ended up ranked as a 3-star, the #71 linebacker, and #719 overall.

I think Pollard is a high-floor, low-ceiling prospect. He has the pedigree, technique, and athleticism to be a decent player, but he lacks that quick-twitch ability to be a high-level performer, in my opinion. The biggest thing lacking as a freshman will be a shortage of bulk and strength. He’s listed at 200 pounds and he does not have the ability to overpower linemen as a senior in high school. That will need to come in the weight room and at the dinner table. For now I think Pollard is likely to redshirt with an outside chance at playing on some special teams.

Prediction: Redshirt

How Does the 2022 Class Match Up with Michigan’s All-Time Recruits?

Thanks to Ashley, Eric, Joe, and Stephen for the recent Paypal donations.

As much as we like to get excited about every single Michigan recruit, it’s important to keep perspective and realize that not every one of these players will be destined for stardom. This exercise can give us a range of what to expect from some of these players, even though star rankings can be very wrong.

Will Johnson – CB – Grosse Pointe (MI) South
2022 ranking: #14
Historical ranking: tied for #9 all-time at Michigan
Tied with: S Daxton Hill (2019) and DE LaMarr Woodley (2003)
Closest positional comparisons: Jabrill Peppers (#3 in 2014) and Donovan Warren (#27 in 2007)

Derrick Moore – DE – Baltimore (MD) St. Francis
2022 ranking: #49
Historical ranking: tied for #37 all-time at Michigan
Tied with: OG Kyle Kalis (2012) and RB Ty Isaac (2013)
Closest positional comparisons: Pierre Woods (#43 in 2001) and Luiji Vilain (#56 in 2017)

Keon Sabb – S – Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
2022 ranking: #84
Historical ranking: #64 all-time at Michigan
Flanked by: OT Cory Zirbel (#83 in 2005) and #87 Kyle Bosch (2013)
Closest positional comparisons: Michael Williams (#72 in 2007) and Demar Dorsey (#87 in 2010)

Hit the jump for more.

Micah Pollard, Wolverine

Jacksonville (FL) Bartram Trail linebacker Micah Pollard committed to Michigan on Monday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Auburn, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Penn State, and Virginia Tech, among others.

Pollard is listed at 6’3″ and 200 lbs. He made 69 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, and 1 interception as a junior in 2020.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 77 grade, #61 OLB
Rivals: 3-star, 5.7 grade, #39 OLB
247 Sports: 3-star, 87 grade, #66 LB

Hit the jump for more.

Visitors: June 4-6, 2021

TRANSFERS

Jay Toia – DT – USC: Toia is a 6’2″, 315 lb. player who signed with USC in the class of 2021. However, he entered the transfer portal and is interested in Michigan. He was a 4-star, the #26 defensive lineman, and #186 overall. Michigan offered him out of high school and pursued hard, but Toia has lamented that he couldn’t take official visits and see more schools due to COVID.

2022

Dillon Bell – WR – Houston (TX) Kinkaid: Bell is a 6’2″, 205 lb. prospect with offers from Baylor, Michigan, and Penn State, among others. He’s a 3-star, the #69 wide receiver, and #545 overall. He stopped by Michigan for an unofficial visit and is supposed to return later in June for an official visit. The Wolverines recently offered his younger brother Micah Bell, a 2023 cornerback.

Jeremiah Caldwell – CB – Belleville (MI) Belleville: Caldwell is a 6’3″, 170 lb. prospect who has been committed to Kentucky since January 2021. He is a 3-star, the #31 athlete, and #385 overall. Michigan offered in mid-April, and the defensive backs coach he committed to at Kentucky is now at Michigan (Steve Clinkscale). This is an unofficial visit on June 2.

Dakari Frazier – DE – Pickerington (OH) Central: Frazier is a 6’4″, 245 lb. prospect with offers from a handful of MAC programs. He’s a 247 Sports 3-star and the #174 defensive lineman in the country. He’s a teammate of 2023 safety/linebacker Sonny Styles (see below).

Hit the jump for more.