Tigers’ Pollard declares for NFL Draft
Memphis star showed fans his range of talent
In three seasons, Tony Pollard electrified Memphis fans whether as a running back, receiver or one of the nation's top kick returners.
He showed his full range at the Birmingham Bowl with his first career 100yard game as a running back and his seventh career kickoff return touchdown to tie the NCAA FBS record.
That turned out to be Pollard's swan song as the Memphis junior announced on Twitter Friday that is declaring for the NFL Draft, becoming the second Tigers player to do so following this season.
"I would like to thank The University of Memphis first and foremost for a great four years of football," Pollard's statement began. "This program has allowed me to progress and accomplish so much during that time."
Pollard's announcement comes just days before the Jan. 14 deadline for un-
derclassmen to declare for the draft.
Running back Darrell Henderson declared for the NFL Draft in December after this year's AAC championship game.
While Henderson's decision was expected after becoming Memphis' first unanimous All-american, Pollard's announcement was a surprise considering he had somewhat of a down year after winning AAC Special Teams Player of the Year his first two seasons.
Yet Pollard leaves Memphis with a decorated career and put together a well-rounded junior campaign
The Melrose High School alum set a Birmingham Bowl record with 318 allpurpose yards in the Tigers' 37-34 loss to Wake Forest. The 318 yards is also second-highest in Memphis history for a single game.
Pollard finished this season with 1,677 all-purpose yards and was the Tigers' third-leading rusher (552 yards) as well as their second-leading receiver (39 receptions for 458 yards). He also graduated with his degree in December.
In 2017, he led the nation in kickoff return touchdowns (four) and kick return yards per game (40.0). He was named an All-american by several outlets, including the Football Writers Association of America and Walter Camp.
As a freshman, Pollard was named a FWAA Freshman All-american after returning two kickoffs for touchdowns and registering 1,068 kickoff return yards.
Pollard's kickoff return touchdown against Temple in 2016 was the first at Memphis since 1996 and ended what is believed to be the longest drought in FBS history between kickoff return scores. With Henderson and Pollard leaving for the draft, the Tigers will be thin at running back next season with Patrick Taylor as the lone returner with significant carries. After Taylor, the next highest rusher is freshman Kenny Gainwell, who had 91 rushing yards in four games before redshirting.
Gainwell and Tim Taylor, who completed his freshman season, lead a pack of young backs that will compete for carries this spring. The Tigers also signed three-star running back Rodrigues Clark from Mississippi.