'16 CA S/CB C.J. Pollard (Offer)

[BobbyMac]

Safety / CB
Gardena, CA
Junipero Serra Catholic
Mission League

Measurables:

Ht: 6-1
Wt: 180
Shuttle: 4.38
Vert: 30.3
PowerBall: 35'
Sparq Certified


Ratings:

247 Comp..... .....#15 S........#307 Overall.... - .8966 rating

247.............. .........#25 S.........88 rating
ESPN............ .....#18 S........#251 Overall........ 80 rating
Rivals........... .....#19 S.........5.8 rating
Scout........... .....#27 CB.......#267 Overall


Offers

ASU
BC
Cal
Colorado
Duke
Illinois
Michigan
Oregon St
SJSU
USC
Utah
Washington St
Wisconsin


Interest

NOTRE DAME
Oregon
UCLA
Washington


Media Links:

Twitter - @cjpollard1

C.J. Pollard - Hudl

CJ Pollard - MaxPreps

C.J. Pollard - 247sports

C.J. Pollard - ESPN

CJ Pollard - Rivals

CJ Pollard - Notre Dame / Scout

Serra (Gardena, CA) Football | MaxPreps


Highlights:

<iframe src='//www.hudl.com/embed/athlete/2475939/highlights/175471384' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[BobbyMac]

On a loaded Serra squad, joined by current ND offers Brandon Burton and Oluwole Betiku as well as Khalil Tate and FSU offer Blake Walls. I'd say Serra is the pre-season #1 team in California next year, which might translate into the #1 team in the country.

247 has SC and Michigan in the lead but like has been said before, there is a lot of talent at S in California this cycle and SC has been stacking it deep the last two years. Someone other than SC is going to get some good players this year from here.

 

[Crazy Balki]

On a loaded Serra squad, joined by current ND offers Brandon Burton and Oluwole Betiku as well as Khalil Tate and FSU offer Blake Walls. I'd say Serra is the pre-season #1 team in California next year, which might translate into the #1 team in the country.

247 has SC and Michigan in the lead but like has been said before, there is a lot of talent at S in California this cycle and SC has been stacking it deep the last two years. Someone other than SC is going to get some good players this year from here.

A lot to factor into this. Serra, is essentially USC's Bishop Gorman. Meaning, it's next to impossible to get guys to go anywhere else. If they want them and they have room, they'll more than likely get them.

HOWEVER, one cannot understate the hiring of Mike Sanford. Getting one of the best recruiters to team up with Denbrock and presumably Lyght (almost certain for DB's), both great recruiters in their own right, is simply HUGE. Not to mention, all three have deep connections in the Golden State. Sanford during his time at Stanford and Boise State, his dad coached at USC. Denbrock has practically set up shop there for the last 5 years while at ND, and Lyght is from Cali, lived there and played pro-ball there, and even won a Super Bowl with the Rams. Not only that, but 2 of those guys will also be in Texas. Good luck everybody else, you. will. need it.

 

[notredomer23]

Any relation to Marlon who was a one time commit to ND IIRC?

 

[GoldenDomer]

A lot to factor into this. Serra, is essentially USC's Bishop Gorman. Meaning, it's next to impossible to get guys to go anywhere else. If they want them and they have room, they'll more than likely get them.

HOWEVER, one cannot understate the hiring of Mike Sanford. Getting one of the best recruiters to team up with Denbrock and presumably Lyght (almost certain for DB's), both great recruiters in their own right, is simply HUGE. Not to mention, all three have deep connections in the Golden State. Sanford during his time at Stanford and Boise State, his dad coached at USC. Denbrock has practically set up shop there for the last 5 years while at ND, and Lyght is from Cali, lived there and played pro-ball there, and even won a Super Bowl with the Rams. Not only that, but 2 of those guys will also be in Texas. Good luck everybody else, you. will. need it.

Can you explain this? Do you mean that Gorman is to ND as Serra is to USC? We've only got 3.

 

[BobbyMac]

Can you explain this? Do you mean that Gorman is to ND as Serra is to USC? We've only got 3.

SC has 4 Serra players. 3 makes a pipeline.

.

 

[GoldenDomer]

SC has 4 Serra players. 3 makes a pipeline.

.

I consider a pipeline a history of consistently getting players. They may have 4 now, but how many have come through?

 

[Crazy Balki]

Can you explain this? Do you mean that Gorman is to ND as Serra is to USC? We've only got 3.

Yes, and ND could very well have had more than 3. Starks was close to committing until he got kicked out of school, and Broadus wasn't pursued because the staff wanted St. Brown more.

And it's not just the players either. BG has a lot of ND ties. Same with USC and Serra, of course, SC has a lot of ties to a bunch of those SoCal schools.

 

[BobbyMac]

Any relation to Marlon who was a one time commit to ND IIRC?

I wonder? Marlon Pollard had an interesting career. First UCLA then at one of the Michigan directionals for most of the playing I think, then finished at ASU. He was a 4.0 grad student at ASU a few years ago. They would always say he was a former ND commit. I really don't know what level of football he played before ASU. In Tempe he was a special teams guy.

*I just looked him up. He's from San Bernadino and Serra is in the LA proper. They may be related but that's gotta be 80ish miles. Probably a few Pollards amongst the 15 million people in the area.

.

 

[drake29]

Yes, and ND could very well have had more than 3. Starks was close to committing until he got kicked out of school, and Broadus wasn't pursued because the staff wanted St. Brown more.

And it's not just the players either. BG has a lot of ND ties. Same with USC and Serra, of course, SC has a lot of ties to a bunch of those SoCal schools.

Starks was also into Oklahoma and was not an ND commit. Jones was UCLA until Nicco came through and ND being TE U doesn't hurt. I don't consider Nicco a high upside player...Gorman is an ND friendly program but they do not exclusively send their top players to ND. If Gorman was an ND pipeline I would expect to see that 5 star talent on their basketball team to be Irish as well. Stop calling it a pipeline.

 

[PerthDomer]

JSerra fills USC with their best basketball players? They don't? Then stop calling it a feeder.

Schools are capable of feeding just one sport.

 

[BobbyMac]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Defensive back C.J. Pollard <a href="https://twitter.com/CJPollard1">@CJPollard1</a> still focused on five: <a href="http://t.co/TsdFmfiMRL">http://t.co/TsdFmfiMRL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ASU?src=hash">#ASU</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UTAH?src=hash">#UTAH</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USC?src=hash">#USC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OREGON?src=hash">#OREGON</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UMICH?src=hash">#UMICH</a> <a href="http://t.co/c5LChBFgKa">pic.twitter.com/c5LChBFgKa</a></p>— Gerard Martinez (@gmartlive) <a href="https://twitter.com/gmartlive/status/589590154911698944">April 19, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Luckylucci]

Offered and ND has moved into his top group with the list above.

 

[PANDFAN]

"It's Notre Dame man," Pollard said when asked about the Irish before the camp. "It's a great school with great DB's and they put a lot of guys in the league. They have a rich history and it's a powerhouse program

"It's big," Pollard said. "It's a prestigious school and they have a great education. I definitely want to take a visit out there."

he did say that Denbrock mentioned that there's a chance he could also play cornerback because of his length.

"It doesn't really matter to me where I play," Pollard said. "I just want to make an impact." - See more at: https://notredame.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1766083#sthash.4p8ppeqk.dpuf

 

[BleedBlueGold]

"It's Notre Dame man," Pollard said when asked about the Irish before the camp. "It's a great school with great DB's and they put a lot of guys in the league. They have a rich history and it's a powerhouse program … An offer from them would mean a visit for sure and consideration right away." - See more at: https://notredame.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1766083#sthash.4p8ppeqk.dpuf

This quote only backs up what Christian on ISD mentioned in that ND's perception among high schoolers is actually pretty good.

ND's win/loss record isn't helping them land the big fish. But kids notice that BK and co are putting kids in the League with regularity. That win over LSU, while not a big time bowl, is still lingering around in a positive way too.

 

[BobbyMac]

This quote only backs up what Christian on ISD mentioned in that ND's perception among high schoolers is actually pretty good.

ND's win/loss record isn't helping them land the big fish. But kids notice that BK and co are putting kids in the League with regularity. That win over LSU, while not a big time bowl, is still lingering around in a positive way too.

To add to this... SoCal kids who are SC / ND level targets seem to always have good things to say about ND even though the Irish may be seen as the "enemy". In an era of well traveled high school teams playing national schedules and the unlimited camping or 7v7 events in the summer that this level of recruit participates, ND is WAY above what SC can offer. ND touches both oceans, California yearly with a San Diego game vs Navy coming too, plays in Shamrock venues like Fenway, Jerrydome, Ireland and Soldier Field, has an intersectional game or two vs high end, Power5 schools and mama can watch every game in HD with just a set of rabbit ears. ND provides all of that while SC gets two home games against CRAP schools, a trip to SB and the same Seattle to Tucson swing every year. All this considered, SC is still going to get 80% of the top targets in this market but they only have so many roster spots and minutes to hand out. UCLA should be second in line but ND has to have the mindset that they are next and be on no worse than equal footing with Oregon & Stanford for the rest. Also, ND must continue to battle for the 5 star Max Redfield's and Kory Minor's of the market who "get it", get that ND is a different offer away from football while still giving them the exact same chance to play on Sundays.

.

 

[Big23Head]

Scout: plans to commit at The Opening but will take visits afterward

 

[BobbyMac]

Scout: plans to commit at The Opening but will take visits afterward

Kinda like getting engaged but still dating other people. Makes perfectly good sense.

NCAA... CHANGE THE RULES, PLEASE!

.

 

[PANDFAN]

ND is watching him and others at his school today

 

[PANDFAN]

The Gardena (Calif.) Serra standout said he wants to visit Notre Dame, Michigan and Oregon soon. The timing is important since Pollard still plans to make his commitment at The Opening later this summer.

"Those are the three schools planned right now," Pollard said.

"I've been talking to the quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame and I just met the defensive coordinator for the first time and he was in love with what he saw on Wednesday.

"Michigan I've been talking to coach (Michael Zordich). He called my mom and my dad and he wants me to get out there as soon as possible. With Oregon, I always said ever since I got the offer that's mandatory. I have to make my way up to Oregon. Everybody tells me it's beautiful with all the facilities."

USC remains a major player in Pollard's commitment. Ever since the Trojans offered, Pollard has talked highly of the local program. His father, Marvin, played there and plenty of Gardena Serra teammates have been or are with the program currently.
rivals

 

[PANDFAN]

"My dad likes a school that's going to give me the best opportunity," Pollard said. "He doesn't want me to go to a school that's not going to have the best interest in me. He wants me to make my own decision and for me to go out there and perform.

"My dad likes Notre Dame. He played against them - he won some, he lost some - but he knows it's a great program and what it has to offer."
- See more at: https://notredame.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1772105#sthash.O1feE6c8.dpuf

 

[PANDFAN]

family wants to check out South Bend before making a decision in July.
- See more at: https://notredame.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1772105#sthash.vumdiflh.dpuf

 

[Irish#1]

Have a feeling it's UO or USC, but since he's making the visit you never know.

 

[BobbyMac]

"My dad likes a school that's going to give me the best opportunity," Pollard said. "He doesn't want me to go to a school that's not going to have the best interest in me. He wants me to make my own decision and for me to go out there and perform.

"My dad likes Notre Dame. He played against them - he won some, he lost some - but he knows it's a great program and what it has to offer."
- See more at: https://notredame.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1772105#sthash.O1feE6c8.dpuf

Strong words coming from a former Trojan. I wonder if it's hard to get a real education at SC for football players? I know SC offers some excellent degrees but can the average football player at SC succeed in those areas? Does SC have the support to help them. I can tell you it's not easy being a DI athlete and competing against bright students who don't lose that 1-6pm time block to practice everyday. When you get done, you are tired, hungry and just as you have to start studying... they are wrapping up and getting their social life going... very distracting. Add to that the weekday travel which is worse for us basketball players but still 6 weeks of a football players fall semester is interrupted by Thursday-Friday travel.

Sounds like Sr. Pollard is saying something with that statement if I'm allowed to read into it a bit.

.

 

[PANDFAN]

Pollard then explained why each made the cut.

"Utah was my first offer, so that one's always going to be in my top (group)," Pollard said. "USC is a powerhouse. It's a big school with a lot of tradition and I'm from L.A. Arizona State has been recruiting me very hard from Day One. That and Coach (Todd) Graham is a head coach and a DB's coach, and that has a lot of benefits.

"Notre Dame and Michigan are big programs with lots of tradition and big backgrounds," he continued. "Those schools have really been on me and they need DB's. Oregon's a school everybody likes growing up because of the facilities and the uniforms and that's a good school as well."

Working against Notre Dame and Michigan is the fact that Pollard has never been to the Midwest. He said, however, that leaving home "is not an issue." Finding a good business school will be a part of his decision, Pollard added.
rivals

 

[PANDFAN]

“Coach Denbrock tells me to build my own legacy and come to Notre Dame and join something new and start change,” said the class of 2016 recruit. “He says to come be a part of something special they are building there right now.”

“I talk to head coach Jim Harbaugh,” said Pollard. “He personally recruits me himself. He wants me to come see what they have to offer. The Big House is big and full of tradition. They would prepare me for the NFL. That’s big.”
“I’m trying to take unofficial visits to Oregon, Michigan and Notre Dame,” said Pollard. “Those are three visits I’m trying to get in right away. Those three schools are in my top six. The thing is, I’ve seen three other schools in my top six, but I haven’t seen them. I want to see those places in person, spend time with the coaching staffs, things like that.

“My goal is to commit at The Opening in July in a few weeks. These schools want me to get out there as soon as possible. I tell them how hard it is to commit to a visit plan, but I do want to get out there to those three. I’ll narrow it down to a top three prior to my commitment.”
247

 

[BobbyMac]

The Irish are doing a good job being in the conversation with many of the recruits they should be this year.

That being said, I'm not sure if it's because of the SC and UCLA's takes over the past few cycles and the depth charts it's created... or an improvement in ND tactics.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Unless some of the big safety targets from the SE pop soon. ND will end up with 3 DB's from Cali this cycle... especially if there is room on Oct 17th at around 10:30p EST. ;-)

.

.

 

[DillonHall]

The Irish are doing a good job being in the conversation with many of the recruits they should be this year.

That being said, I'm not sure if it's because of the SC and UCLA's takes over the past few cycles and the depth charts it's created... or an improvement in ND tactics.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Unless some of the big safety targets from the SE pop soon. ND will end up with 3 DB's from Cali this cycle... especially if there is room on Oct 17th at around 10:30p EST. ;-)

Which 3 do you have in mind?

 

[BobbyMac]

Which 3 do you have in mind?

It's not an exact 3 but the 3 would come out of a group that includes:

David Long, CJ Pollard, Trevon Sidney, Trejohn Butler, DJ Morgan, Chacho Ulloa, Troy Dye, Micah Croom, Ben Sukut, Keyon Riley and Kentrell Love.

Some of those guys are commits elsewhere but ND is high on their lists like DJ Morgan and Micah Croom. Some have no offers but all have been in contact. I have always had a feeling that Micah Croom would end up in South 'Bend. Still feel that way.

They have offered others like Brandon Burton and Jack Jones but I can't see them not going SC unless they OV on Oct 17th and the Irish put a beatdown on the Trojans.

.

 

[BobbyMac]

Announcing at The Opening next week.

Looks like Oregon to me over SC but he was the MVP at SC's camp so who knows.

.