With Week 1's schedule already underway, college football commentator and former Georgia linebacker David Pollack joined Friday's edition of TexAgs LIVE to discuss the weekend's biggest headlines, including Saturday's matchup between Texas A&M and Notre Dame.
Important notes from the interview with David Pollack
- My wife and I are blessed. When I was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, we started a foundation there. When we came back to Georgia, we started one here, too. It's just about giving back and helping others. We just gave away a car a few months ago. That's one of the cooler things we've done. Every November, we have a blessing banquet where we bless the homeless and other people in the community. We brought 942 people in and gave them a Thanksgiving meal. We gave them gloves, scarves, hats, coats, sleeping bags. It was like Christmas morning for them. We find different areas in the community where we can make a difference.
- It's weird being on YouTube now. It's a lot different. I just love college football. I'm going to coach my son for the next three years. I coach my daughter on the college basketball team. I'm not going to travel to cover college football, but I still want to be able to talk about football. It's not rambling. I'm going to talk about football. I'm going to point out things that people are doing in the community. I think if you like football, you'll enjoy it. It's a different world now. It's cool because anyone can voice their thoughts or opinions. It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from. It doesn't matter if you're male or female. If you want to start something that you're passionate about, you can build something cool. I think that's great. Technology has gotten so much better.
- I'm all for Texas A&M. Things have changed dramatically. Jimbo Fisher had a great run at Florida State. Recruiting and talent were never a problem. You saw guys everywhere, but being able to put talent together and use it to its full potential is a whole different thing. Fisher has won 12 games the last two seasons. Mike Elko has won 16 at Duke, and we're not talking about basketball season. Elko is a guy who knows how to put talent together and develop players. I think that's a huge improvement. I'm a huge Elko fan.
- You visit schools all over the country and see places that can be really good. Texas A&M is on par with a lot of schools. They have the resources, facilities and money. I think this year is going to be special. I think they can win nine or 10 games. They're going to have a lot of say in who makes the playoffs and who doesn't. They start the season against Notre Dame. They don't have a lot of tough games on their schedule. They have to come to you, just like Missouri has to come to you. LSU has to come to you. Texas has to come to you at the end of the season. They could have a chance to dash their playoff hopes. If I were buying stock, I'd buy as much A&M stock as I could.
- It's very difficult to discipline players and relate to them at the same time. It's harder now than ever. More than ever, these kids need to understand why they're doing this. They need to know that you care about them. You need to love them. It's not easy being an athlete these days. Every time you go anywhere, there's a camera in your face or someone wants your autograph. Now, NIL and money come into the mix. I had enough problems in Georgia without that. Relating to these kids is 100 percent a skill.
- You need assistant coaches you trust. I'm very excited about Collin Klein. He was a running back. Kansas State is physical and tough every year. The players take on the identity of their coach. Often it's the one who coaches them every day. The staff has a lot to prove. College Station has a lot to prove. I think Mike Elko is a guy who has done it with less talent and outperformed others. I think he can create a culture and I know he can build a defense.
- You can't guess he's coming into this league. He was with the Aggies for four years. He already knows the culture. When he was there, they were elite on defense.
- Conner Weigman has a chance to rise up draft boards, not just in college football. At the end of the season, he could be a guy that you point to and say, “I think he could be the best quarterback.” I think he's that good. When I watch Weigman, his ability to run a pocket, feel the rush, and his ability to keep his composure is top-notch. I can't teach people that. I can have the strongest arm in the world. I can't teach you how to feel a pocket. That's something you're born with. Conner Weigman has that. That's why I think this offense can be special.
- Riley Leonard is a strong guy. He runs hard. Mike Denbrock comes from LSU and just won a Heisman trophy with Jayden Daniels. I think the system will be exceptional. Notre Dame's weapons are not the best on the outside. They are unproven. A&M's secondary is also unproven. This is a great matchup with two really good quarterbacks.
- When you're starting out, your voice is unimportant. As a freshman, you have to shut up and show people what you're up to. If you can show people how hard you work and how much you care, your voice will get louder. I didn't have a leadership voice until my sophomore year. When you start making plays, now you have a voice. Then you have to learn how to control that voice. You have to learn when and how to push people. You have to lead people in different ways. I have to understand if I can yell at someone or stay calm and encourage them. Leadership has many facets. You have to have a work ethic and be tough before you can have a voice. Otherwise, it goes in one ear and out the other.
- Notre Dame lost both tackles to the NFL. Then their next player who was going to be really good tore a pectoral muscle in training camp. I think they are already banged up and inexperienced up front. Who can protect their QB and run the football will be critical? Riley Leonard can do a lot in the run game himself. The defense is hard to play when the QB can run. He can break tackles and run 60-70 yards. Looking at Notre Dame and their weapons, is Mitchell Evans good enough at tight end to make plays? Both offensive lines have a lot to prove. If A&M can run the football, Weigman can do some damage in the passing game.
- Cam Ward is really good. He might be the best portal player. He came out of Washington State and Incarnate Word. He's super athletic. He's not big, but he's a playmaker. He gets the ball out of his hands quickly. He's going to have a lot of weapons in Miami. It's now or never for Miami. Their talent is on par with anyone in the ACC. The training lines are both really solid. They have a lot of guys in the portal and Mario Cristobal has been recruiting at a high level. It's time for them to prove themselves and show it.
- Tre Harris could have gone to the NFL. Last year, when Jaxson Dart was feeling more confident, he kept throwing the ball to number 9. He made some sensational plays. Lane Kiffin can obviously coach offense. Harris is big, tall and athletic. I think the Ole Miss offense is going to be really good.
- Georgia has some injuries and some suspensions. Trevor Etienne won't play. Rara Thomas was kicked off the team. There are some question marks, but they have as many losses as national championships in the last three seasons. They are 42-2. I think they know exactly who they are. Nate Frazier is the next great running back. He's incredible. KJ Bolden is another freshman who will probably be a plug-and-play on defense. The talent is there. The best coach in college football is there.
- It's a tough opponent for Clemson. Matt Luke needs some time. Clemson has trouble finding weapons and explosive plays. Dabo Swinney not developing makes it harder to win. If I were Dabo, I'd have two national championships. I don't need to change. Dabo is one of the best I've ever seen at making people believe and fight. He recruits high school players at a high level. They look for Clemson-type guys. Army, Navy, Air Force and Clemson are the only four college football schools that haven't taken a transfer. That's different, and that's his style.
