Tag: Micah Pollard

2024 Ex-Wolverine Player Updates: Post-season

Andrel Anthony, WR (Oklahoma Duke): Anthony had injury issues over his time in Norman and made just 1 catch for 4 yards this past season. He transferred to Duke after the season.

Jeremiah Beasley, LB (Missouri): Beasley made 7 tackles while playing in eleven games as a freshman.

Tristan Bounds, OT (Arizona): Bounds played just one offensive snap for Michigan this year and transferred to Arizona after the season.

Hit the jump for more.

2024 Season Countdown: #57 Micah Pollard

Name: Micah Pollard
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 234 lbs.
High school: Jacksonville (FL) Bartram Trail
Position: Linebacker
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #4
Last year: I ranked Pollard #57 and said he would be a backup linebacker and special teamer (LINK). He played in twelve games and made 8 tackles.
TTB Rating: 74

Pollard was ranked at #57 last year, too, and he ended up playing in all fifteen games, but just four on defense. He was mostly a special teams player, and he made 7 tackles throughout the season. While the coaching staff seems to like him okay – he has played in 27 games over two seasons – there doesn’t seem to be a big push to get him on the field much at linebacker. He was a third- or fourth-stringer in 2023, and that is likely to continue in 2024.

Pollard will probably continue to play on special teams, but Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham will start, and the primary backups appear to be Jaydon Hood and Jimmy Rolder. Hood played more snaps (85) than Pollard (33), and Rolder (23) played in just three games last year in order to maintain his redshirt. There is a little bit of hope for Pollard if the depth chart clears out ahead of him (Hausmann and Barham could potentially jump to the NFL), but Hood and Rolder could both return for 2025. Unless Pollard can pull a Rolder and take a redshirt year to gain an extra season of eligibility, we’re probably talking about a career backup.

Prediction: Backup linebacker and special teamer

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)

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