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.
Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Kalel Mullings. I respect Michigan’s 1-2 punch at running back, and they’ve done a good job (for the most part) of keeping guys fresh over the past several years and having at least two very good running backs. From Charbonnet/Haskins to Haskins/Corum to Corum/Edwards, the Wolverines have garnered a lot of respect. A couple games ago, though, the “Thunder” in this year’s thunder/lightning duo only had 6 carries. That’s not enough. Mullings had 15 carries for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns against Arkansas State, and he deserves to have just as many carries as Donovan Edwards, if not more. Michigan has a big game coming up this weekend, and Mullings should be getting the rock.
Name: Myles Pollard Height: 6’1″ Weight: 194 lbs. High school: Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood Position: Cornerback Class: Redshirt sophomore Jersey number: #24 Last year: I ranked Pollard #69 and said he would be a backup cornerback (LINK). He played in two games and made 1 tackle. TTB Rating: 83
When we talking getting late early for Michigan players, Myles Pollard comes to mind. Back in 2023 when Michigan was looking for a cornerback or two to help out early in the season when Will Johnson was injured and Josh Wallace was getting up to speed, the coaching staff turned to walk-on Keshaun Harris and nickel Mike Sainristil before trying Pollard. In fact, Pollard has played in four career games over two seasons: Bowling Green, UNLV, Colorado State, and UConn. Despite having two years of experience, he’s only played against teams who were getting blown out.
So now we’re headed into 2024 with similar questions at cornerback, but instead of planning to promote a guy like Pollard to full-time duty, the coaching staff went out and got transfers from Albany’s Aamir Hall and UNLV’s Ricky Johnson. Pollard has not been in the discussion at all despite the numerous moving parts. He had already been passed by D.J. Waller, who was one year younger, and now it seems that Jyaire Hill will also move past Pollard; the second cornerback seems to be coming down to Hall or Hill. So Michigan might get this year and perhaps next from Pollard, but the writing seems to be on the wall for him at Michigan.
Name: Myles Pollard Height: 6’1″ Weight: 191 lbs. High school: Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood Position: Cornerback Class: Redshirt freshman Jersey number: #24 Last year: I ranked Pollard #88 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He played in two games and made 1 tackle. TTB Rating: 83
Pollard was not needed in 2022, so he was always a longshot to get much run. Not only did Michigan have some veteran starters in Gemon Green and D.J. Turner II, but they also had 5-star freshman Will Johnson. So when Pollard joined the recruiting class, he was always looked at as more of a year two contributor, if that.
Now going into year two, I see Pollard as a possible year three contributor . . . if that. Will Johnson returns on one side, and the buzz about the other starting corner revolves mostly around three people: UMass transfer Josh Wallace, converted receiver Amorion Walker, and Ja’den McBurrows. Pollard does not have great speed, so he will need to be physical and technical if he wants to succeed. He may be on that path, but it will take some time before he gets a chance to show it.
Name: Myles Pollard Height: 6’2″ Weight: 185 lbs. High school: Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood Position: Cornerback Class: Freshman Jersey number: #24 Last year: Pollard was a senior in high school (LINK). TTB Rating: 83
Pollard, a former high school teammate of Michigan linebacker Junior Colson, was on the fringe of Michigan’s radar until Steve Clinkscale was hired, swooped in, and convinced the young corner to come to Ann Arbor. It was a big recruiting win for Michigan, since he had offers from Alabama, Auburn, Miami, Oregon, Penn State, and numerous others. Pollard ended up as a 3-star, the #54 cornerback, and #602 overall.
It’s hard to reconcile that offer list with the ranking, but Pollard enrolled early in January and participated in Michigan’s spring game. I have to say that he didn’t flash much in the spring game. Not only is he still pretty skinny, but his speed looked just so-so. That being said, his physicality and length are a couple of his strong suits, and those won’t be an advantage in the college game until he has a year or two in the S&C program. So I don’t expect much from Pollard in 2022. He should be firmly entrenched as a backup with a good chance to redshirt.
