Tony Pollard

Last updated

Tony Pollard
Tony Pollard Titans 24.jpg
Pollard in 2024
No. 20 – Tennessee Titans
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1997-04-30) April 30, 1997 (age 26)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:209 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school: Melrose
(Memphis, Tennessee)
College: Memphis (2015–2018)
NFL draft: 2019  / Round: 4 / Pick: 128
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Rushing yards:3,621
Rushing average:4.8
Receptions:176
Receiving yards:1,319
Return yards:1,500
Total touchdowns:29
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Tony Randall Pollard (born April 30, 1997) is an American football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Memphis, and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft.

Contents

Early years

Pollard attended Melrose High School, where he played high school football. As a senior, he was a two-way starter at wide receiver and cornerback on the high school football team. [1] He helped the team reach the playoffs, while amassing over 1,200 receiving yards, 20 touchdowns and being named All-District 16-AAA. [2]

College career

2016 season

Pollard accepted a football scholarship from the University of Memphis. As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in 13 games, of which he started seven. He registered 29 receptions for 298 yards (10.3-yard avg.), 31 carries for 159 yards (5.1-yard avg.) and three touchdowns. [3] He finished among the national leaders in kickoff return average (28.1 yards). He had two returns for a touchdown and was named the American Athletic Conference's Special Teams Player of the Year. [4]

2017 season

As a sophomore, he posted 36 receptions for 536 yards (14.9-yard avg.), 30 carries for 230 yards (7.7-yard avg.) and six touchdowns. [5] He led the nation with a school-record 40-yard average per kickoff return (22 for 881 yards) and four returns for touchdowns. He repeated as the AAC's Special Teams Player of the Year. [6]

2018 season

As a junior, even though he shared the backfield with Darrell Henderson, he totaled 78 carries for 552 yards (7.1-yard avg.), 39 receptions for 458 yards (11.7-yard avg.), ten touchdowns with one kickoff return for a touchdown. [7] In the 2018 Birmingham Bowl against Wake Forest, he recorded 318 all-purpose yards (209 on kickoff returns) and one rushing touchdown. [8]

Pollard was considered one of the best kickoff return specialists in college football, tying a FBS record with seven career kick-return touchdowns, 87 kickoff returns (second in school history), 2,616 kickoff return yards (second in school history), 30.1 kick-return average (school record) and 4,680 all-purpose yards (second in school history). [9] On January 11, 2019, Pollard declared for the 2019 NFL draft. [10] Just six days later, on January 17, 2019, Pollard was added to the 2019 North Senior Bowl roster. [11]

College statistics

Memphis Tigers
SeasonTeamPosGPRushingReceivingScrimmage
AttYdsAvgTDRecYdsAvgTDPlaysYdsAvgTD
2015 Memphis WR0 Redshirt.svg Redshirt
2016 Memphis WR13311595.112929810.32604577.63
2017 Memphis RB133653614.92302307.746676611.66
2018 Memphis RB14785527.163945811.731171,0108.69
Career 401061,15310.861371,0807.9122432,2339.218

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 11+5⁄8 in
(1.82 m)		210 lb
(95 kg)		30 in
(0.76 m)		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		4.52 s1.58 s2.63 s35 in
(0.89 m)		10 ft 1 in
(3.07 m)		13 reps
All values from NFL Combine [12] [13]

Dallas Cowboys

2019 season

Pollard was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (128th overall) in the 2019 NFL Draft. [14]

Pollard had 13 carries for 24 yards in his NFL debut in Week 1 against the New York Giants in the 35–17 victory. [15] During Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins, Pollard posted his first career 100+-yard game as he finished with 103 rushing yards on 13 carries and a touchdown as the Cowboys won 31–6. [16] During Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams, Pollard finished with 131 rushing yards on 12 attempts, including a 44-yard touchdown as the Cowboys won 44–21. [17] Overall, in his rookie season, he finished with 86 carries for 455 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to go along with 15 receptions for 107 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. [18]

2020 season

Pollard continued his role as a backup to Ezekiel Elliott to go along with some kickoff return duties in the 2020 season. [19] In Week 15 against the San Francisco 49ers, Pollard recorded 132 yards from scrimmage and two rushing touchdowns during the 41–33 win. [20] Overall, he appeared in all 16 games, of which he started two, in the 2020 season. He finished with 101 carries for 435 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns to go along with 28 receptions for 193 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. [21]

2021 season

Pollard playing against the Washington Football Team in 2021. Tony Pollard & David Mayo DEC2021.jpg
Pollard playing against the Washington Football Team in 2021.

In Week 2, against the Los Angeles Chargers, Pollard totaled 137 scrimmage yards in the 20–17 victory. [22] In Week 5, against the Giants, Pollard totaled 103 scrimmage yards in the 44–20 victory. [23] Pollard finished the 2021 season with 130 carries for 719 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to go along with 39 receptions for 337 receiving yards in 15 games. [24]

2022 season

In Week 5, against the Rams, Pollard had a 57-yard rushing touchdown. [25] In Week 8, against Chicago Bears, Pollard had 13 carries for 141 yards and three rushing touchdowns in the 49–29 win, and was named Ground Player of the Week. [26] In the following game, against the Green Bay Packers, he had 22 carries for 115 rushing yards and a touchdown. [27] In Week 11, Pollard had 80 rushing yards, and six catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns in a 40–3 win over the Minnesota Vikings, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week. [28] In Week 13, he had two rushing touchdowns in a 54–19 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. [29] He had a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the next game, a 27–23 victory over the Houston Texans. [30] He finished the 2022 season with 193 carries for 1,007 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns to go along with 39 receptions for 371 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in 16 games and four starts. [31] He was named as a Pro Bowler. [32] During the Divisional Round against the 49ers, Pollard suffered a high ankle sprain and fractured fibula in the second quarter when 49ers defensive back Jimmie Ward landed on his ankle while making the tackle. Pollard was carted to the X-ray room with an air cast on his leg, and later underwent surgery to repair the injury. [33]

2023 season

On March 6, 2023, the Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Pollard. [34] He scored two touchdowns in a Week 1 victory over the Giants. [35] In Week 3 against the Cardinals, he had 23 carries for 122 yards in the loss. [36] Overall, in the 2023 season, Pollard had 252 carries for 1,005 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns to go with 55 receptions for 311 receiving yards. [37]

Tennessee Titans

Pollard signed a three-year deal with the Tennessee Titans on March 14, 2024. [38]

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesRushingReceivingKickoff returnFumbles
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTDRetYdsAvgLngTDFumLost
2019 DAL 150864555.3442151077.12111424517.530011
2020 DAL 1621014354.3424281936.93013276623.967000
2021 DAL 1501307195.5582393378.63201748928.8100120
2022 DAL 1641931,0075.2579393719.5683—————00
2023 DAL 17172521,0054.0316553115.7600—————31
Career 79237623,6214.858231761,3197.568T5631,50023.8100162

Postseason

YearTeamGamesRushingReceivingKickoff returnFumbles
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTDRetYdsAvgLngTDFumLost
2021 DAL 104143.5802126.010025025.032000
2022 DAL 2021994.71805234.680-----00
2023 DAL 1115563.71117294.190-----00
Career 41401694.218114644.610025025.032000

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References

  1. ↑ "Tony Pollard, Memphis , All Purpose Back". 247Sports.com . Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Prep insider: All-district 16-AAA football teams". www.commercialappeal.com. November 12, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Tony Pollard 2016 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  4. ↑ Schad, Tom (November 30, 2016). "Tony Pollard is AAC special teams player of the year; Five other Tigers earn all-conference honors". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Tony Pollard 2017 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  6. ↑ "2017 American Athletic Conference Football Postseason Honors". theamerican.org. November 29, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Tony Pollard 2018 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Birmingham Bowl – Memphis vs Wake Forest Box Score, December 22, 2018". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Tony Pollard – 2018 – University of Memphis". gotigersgo.com. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  10. ↑ Barnes, Evan (January 12, 2019). "Memphis football's Tony Pollard declares for the NFL Draft". The Commercial Appeal . Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  11. ↑ Kuhn, Gabe (January 17, 2019). "Memphis' Tony Pollard added to Senior Bowl Roster". underdogdynasty.com. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Tony Pollard Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Tony Pollard, Memphis, WR, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  14. ↑ "2019 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  15. ↑ "New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys – September 8th, 2019". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Prescott, Cowboys get out of funk, ease past Dolphins 31–6". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Cowboys render coin toss mix-up moot, throttle Rams 44–21". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 15, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Tony Pollard 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  19. ↑ "2020 Dallas Cowboys Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  20. ↑ "San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys – December 20th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Tony Pollard 2020 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers – September 19th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  23. ↑ "New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys – October 10th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Tony Pollard 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  25. ↑ "2022 NFL season, Week 5: What We Learned from Sunday's games". NFL.com. October 9, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Updates: Tony Pollard Wins Weekly RB Award". Dallas Cowboys.com. November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers - November 13th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  28. ↑ Gordon, Grant (November 23, 2022). "Cowboys RB Tony Pollard, Chiefs TE Travis Kelce highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com.
  29. ↑ "Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys - December 4th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys - December 11th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Tony Pollard 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  32. ↑ "2022 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  33. ↑ Archer, Todd (January 24, 2023). "Source: RB Pollard undergoes surgery for ankle". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  34. ↑ Eatman, Nick (March 6, 2023). "Cowboys Place Franchise Tag on Tony Pollard". DallasCowboys.com. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants - September 10th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  36. ↑ "Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals - September 24th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Tony Pollard 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  38. ↑ Wyatt, Jim. "Titans Agree to Terms With RB Tony Pollard". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
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