In-State DB Myles Pollard Discusses Vols, Tim Banks, Top Six and More

In-State DB Myles Pollard Discusses Vols, Tim Banks, Top Six and More

Myles Pollard released his top schools yesterday, and he discusses each finalist, his relationship with the new Tennessee staff, and much more here.

"I just wanted to narrow it down and focus on these schools. I just feel like these schools are where my heart is at," Pollard said on the timing of his release.

His list includes Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, and Washington.

Tennessee's new staff has prioritized Pollard since taking over in Knoxville. "Tim Banks was big for Tennessee, really," Pollard said on the Vols making the list. "I wasn't that big into Tennessee until Heupel got there and all the coaching changes. Coach Mary from Michigan just got there as well. He was recruiting me hard at Michigan. Tim Banks, he was my second offer at Penn State, so he has been believing in me for a minute. Now that he is up at Tennessee and that is the home-state team, that just carries a lot of weight."

The Volunteers' new head coach Josh Heupel has been big in making Pollard a priority as well. "It went up extremely," Pollard said of his priority level with Tennessee. "I didn't have an offer from Tennessee until the last week that Jeremy Pruitt was there before he got fired. Now, Tennessee is hitting me up every day. Heupel is texting and calling me every day."

Below is what Pollard said on each of his other five finalists.

On Oklahoma: It's just really my relationship with Coach Grinch, Coach Manning, and even Lincoln Riley. They really keep tabs on me almost every day. It is a winning program, and they develop guys to the NFL. I could see myself being there.

On Oklahoma's energy: It is really just the energy he (Grinch) and coach Manning bring every day. They are really similar personality-wise. I think he really knows what he is talking about, too. Just a really good coach.

On his relationship with former middle Tennessee prospects Reggie Grimes, Woodi Washington and Keshawn Lawrence: Those three are part of the reason why (Oklahoma made the list). I talk to Woodi and Keyshawn a lot, especially since they are DB's back there.

On Washington: Washington has been recruiting me for a minute now, since the beginning of the season, really. It is really just a family environment over there. Their whole coaching staff is on me. I mean, my family, me, we just like that coaching staff a lot. They don't offer too many people; they just offer people they believe are the real deal on and off the field. To get that opportunity is like no other. Washington does have a real good record of getting DB's to the NFL as well.

On Kentucky: Their defense has been killing it in the SEC. If I can get down there, they think they can make me the next best DB up there. They were my first offer, too. They have believed in me for a minute. It has just been all love from Kentucky for a while. 

On Michigan: They have been recruiting me really hard since the season has been over. It's just coach Mo, really. He just got there from the Cowboys, and he is a top-notch DB coach, I think. He just really puts his stance on how he can get me to the NFL. He isn't thinking about a month or year away; he is thinking about the next 30 to 40 years. He thinks I could be a real impact at Michigan, that I could leave my name there for a while and be an NFL DB.

On hearing from 2021 signee and former teammate Junior Colson: He is a real good friend of mine. He has kept saying everything is good from down there, so he is keeping it real honest with me.

On Virginia Tech: They are big-time as well. I think they produce a lot of DBs as well. Coach Fuente and the whole coaching staff since they offered me has been rooting for me and showing me and my family love. I just believe everything they say. I think it is a top-notch program, not just football but an academic program as well.

Pollard is not sure what is next in his recruitment. "I am not really sure if it is going to be another list cut or a commitment. Whatever it is, it is just going to be whatever I feel is best at the time," he said.

"I want to major in business, and really all schools have that. It really just comes down to where I feel comfortable and the best with the coaching staff. Just where I feel I can fit the best in a program and be an NFL DB one day."

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