He Is...

It was a typical coming of age story–three guys, a beat-up Ford Escort and tickets to a college football game.

That’s the way the story began, back in October 2010, the first time Jamil Pollard set foot on the Penn State campus that will soon become his home. At the time, Pollard was a junior, ’s star defensive tackle and a hot commodity among high school football players. He was being courted unofficially by a variety of colleges, including Rutgers, Boston College and Florida. 

But in his heart, he already knew he wanted to go to PSU. He just needed a ride.

Pollard had been offered tickets to the white-out, televised game featuring Penn State and Michigan, a late game on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010. It would be an opportunity for him to visit the campus and check out the football team firsthand. But his parents already had plans for that weekend and couldn’t attend. That’s how my sons ended up on a road trip to Happy Valley.

Pollard and my middle son, Sean Weidler, have been friends since their midget football days, so taking the trip with him was a no-brainer. Well, almost. Sean wasn’t old enough to drive at the time, so they had to convince my oldest son, Steven, to take them. (Once they waved the tickets in front of his face, it didn’t take much convincing.)

The Nittany Lions won that game, 41-31, but the trio didn’t stay much past halftime–and that was Pollard’s choice.

“It was just too cold,” he said. He beat Sean in a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to make the call to go home.

Fortunately, Pollard looked at more than just the weather report when he chose a college. Happy Valley is often cold, but Pollard has obviously warmed up to Penn State. He will be officially signing with the school this week on National Signing Day, solidifying late last year.

He was also the first person to commit to PSU following the Sandusky scandal and the firing of coaching icon Joe Paterno in November. Pollard doesn’t talk much about the events, which he said had no bearing in his decision.

“Things happen,” Pollard said. “But Penn is still a good school, no matter what. My recruiting class will be the recruiting class that will help guide the comeback of Penn State, although Penn State wasn’t going to change anyway. It’s still a great school and a great program, no matter if one guy leaves or the whole coaching staff leaves.”

Pollard’s road to Beaver Stadium has been a well-documented and rocky one. He originally committed to PSU in April of his junior year, only to have his scholarship offer revoked after his grades weren’t up to Penn State’s standards. He committed himself to getting his grades up while playing his final season of high school football, a championship season for the Eagles.

“Winning the championship was crazy, but to be honest, it was no surprise,” Pollard said. “The team was working like crazy, and everybody came together perfectly throughout the season. I expected to win the championship.”

So the championship–like the scholarship-worthy grades–became another target for Pollard, who has been setting goals for himself since he was young.

“Growing up, a lot of people told me I was big, so I wanted to use that,” said the 6-4, 270-pound senior. “I aimed to make a mark in football.”

He remembers being in eighth grade, a player in West Deptford’s midget football league, and watching the varsity high school players run through the tunnel while the cheerleaders waved their pom poms, the band played a fight song and the crowd cheered.

It was an all-American dream, and Pollard wanted a part of it.

“I would watch those players, and think that could be me running through the tunnel,” he remembers.

“Of course the first time I ran through the tunnel as a sophomore, I threw up,” he said, grinning. “But I kept going. I thought to myself, 'Let’s do it,' and kept going.”

“Everyone told me I was only on the team because I was big. Some people said I’d never be good,” Pollard added, “But I kept going. Then, when I made all-South Jersey second team, I made first team my goal. Last year I was first team, all-state and all-American. Each was a goal to be accomplished.”

And his goals for next September? Again, Pollard grinned.

“Not to get bullied too bad on the football field,” he said. “I know they’re going to smash me, smash me, smash me. When I went to check out colleges, I couldn’t see over the offensive tackle recruits. I’m 6-4, and I’m standing on my tiptoes to see over them.”

But in a serious moment, he talked about his goals for the future off the football field as well. Pollard plans to double major in Communications and Business, and perhaps start his own video production business after graduation.

“I want to take advantage of the education I’ve been offered,” he said.

As he contemplated signing day, Pollard credited his parents for bringing him to this point.

“My dad taught me little things, like there are always steps that need to be met,” he said. “Through working in his auto shop and doing household chores, he taught me to do things from start to finish. You can’t skip the things that seem unimportant to you.”

And from his mother, Pollard said he learned confidence, the willpower to be a strong individual and respect for self and family.

“She’s one of my heroes, though I never told her that,” he said.

He said he’s learned lessons from his teachers and coaches, but the a particularly memorable one came from Eagles alum Jimmy Owens.

“I was a freshman and he was a junior,” Pollard said. “I had just been moved up from JV, and I still wasn’t sure of myself. But Jimmy told me, 'Jamil, you’re going to be good. Just remember who your true friends are. They’re not the ones who are all around you when you’re doing good in football. The true friends are the ones who cheer you on, even when you’re not playing.'”

It’s a lesson he’ll remember throughout signing day and as he moves on to Happy Valley.

“I love my hometown, and I love the friends I have here,” Pollard said. “Now I’m ready to move forward, one goal at a time.”