University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Todd Drexler
Pollard Named to FWAA Freshman All-America Team
Jan 09, 2017 | Football
Second freshman All-America honor for Memphis native.
MEMPHIS – Freshman running back Tony Pollard was named to the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-American Team Monday as a kick returner.
The Melrose High School graduated finished the season as the American Athletic Conference leader in kickoff return yards (28.1 ypr), including a pair of kickoff return touchdowns and a blocked punt. Pollard, who redshirt in 2015, appeared in all 13 games for the 2016 Tigers, including eight starts, and was also named a USA Today Freshman All-America honoree earlier this season and was voted the American's Special Teams Player of the Year and first team all-conference in a vote of the league coaches.
His 95-yard kick return for a touchdown in the Tigers' conference-opening win against eventual league champion Temple snapped a 20-year old streak for Memphis, taking a return to the house for the first time since Nov. 9. 1996. His second kick return TD came a bit quicker, as two games later at Navy, he returned a kickoff 100 yards for his second return TD of the season. The kick returns both came after he started special teams play in style in his first career game blocking an Alex Knight punt in the first quarter of Memphis' eventual 35-17 victory over Southeast Missouri in the Tigers' season opener.
In his freshman campaign, Pollard also snagged 19 catches for 298 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 31 times for 159 yards. He scored his fourth career touchdown (including the two special teams scores) in the Tigers' bowl game against Western Kentucky.
Pollard is just the second Tiger to earn freshman All-America honors from the FWAA. Former punter Tom Hornsey also earned honors from the writers' organization in 2010 and went on to win the Ray Guy Award in 2013.
Memphis is currently on semester break, but the Tigers will return to class on Tuesday, Jan. 17th. Tigers' spring football is tentatively scheduled to begin on March 21st with the Friday Night Stripes Spring Game scheduled (also tentatively) for Apr. 21st.
The Melrose High School graduated finished the season as the American Athletic Conference leader in kickoff return yards (28.1 ypr), including a pair of kickoff return touchdowns and a blocked punt. Pollard, who redshirt in 2015, appeared in all 13 games for the 2016 Tigers, including eight starts, and was also named a USA Today Freshman All-America honoree earlier this season and was voted the American's Special Teams Player of the Year and first team all-conference in a vote of the league coaches.
His 95-yard kick return for a touchdown in the Tigers' conference-opening win against eventual league champion Temple snapped a 20-year old streak for Memphis, taking a return to the house for the first time since Nov. 9. 1996. His second kick return TD came a bit quicker, as two games later at Navy, he returned a kickoff 100 yards for his second return TD of the season. The kick returns both came after he started special teams play in style in his first career game blocking an Alex Knight punt in the first quarter of Memphis' eventual 35-17 victory over Southeast Missouri in the Tigers' season opener.
In his freshman campaign, Pollard also snagged 19 catches for 298 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 31 times for 159 yards. He scored his fourth career touchdown (including the two special teams scores) in the Tigers' bowl game against Western Kentucky.
Pollard is just the second Tiger to earn freshman All-America honors from the FWAA. Former punter Tom Hornsey also earned honors from the writers' organization in 2010 and went on to win the Ray Guy Award in 2013.
Memphis is currently on semester break, but the Tigers will return to class on Tuesday, Jan. 17th. Tigers' spring football is tentatively scheduled to begin on March 21st with the Friday Night Stripes Spring Game scheduled (also tentatively) for Apr. 21st.
Players Mentioned
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