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Texas A&M Football

David Pollack speaks highly of Weigman ahead of A&M's primetime matchup

August 30, 2024
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As the Week 1 slate is already underway, college football analyst and former Georgia LB David Pollack joined Friday's edition of TexAgs LIVE to discuss the weekend's biggest storylines, including Texas A&M and Notre Dame's clash on Saturday.



Key notes from David Pollack interview

  • Me and my wife have been blessed. When I got 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 being able to give back and serve others. We just gave away a car a couple of months ago. That is one of the cooler things we have done. We do a banquet of blessings every November where we bless the homeless and other people in the community. We had 942 people that we brought in and served a Thanksgiving meal. We got them gloves, scarves, hats, coats and sleeping bags. It was kind of like Christmas morning for them. We find different areas in the community where we can make a difference. 
     
  • It is weird being on YouTube now. It is very different. I just love college football. I am going to coach my son for the next three years. I coach my girl on the varsity basketball team. I am not going to travel to cover college football, but I still want to be able to talk football. It's not a lot of fluff. I am going to talk about football. I am going to point out things people are doing in the community. I think if you like football, you will enjoy it. It is a different world now. It is cool because everyone can get their thoughts or opinions out. It does not matter who you are or where you come from. It does not matter if you're male or female. If you want to start something you're passionate about, you can build something cool. I think it is neat. Technology has gotten so much better. 
     
  • I am fully on the Texas A&M wagon. Things have changed dramatically. Jimbo Fisher had a great run at Florida State. Recruiting and talent were never a problem. You saw dudes everywhere, but being able to gel and maximize talent is a different game. Fisher won 12 games in the last two seasons. Mike Elko won 16 at Duke, and we are not talking about hoops season. Elko is a guy who knows how to mesh talent and develop players. I think it is a massive upgrade. I am a big Elko fan. 
     
  • You visit schools around the country and see places that can be really good. Texas A&M does not take a backseat to many schools. They have the resources, facilities and money. I think this year is going to start something special. I think they can win nine or ten games. They will have a lot to say about who makes the playoffs and who does not. You start the season with Notre Dame. They do not have many tough games on the 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. You might have a chance to ruin their playoff hopes. If I was buying stock, I would be buying as much A&M stock as I can.
     
  • It is very difficult to instill discipline and also relate to players. It is a harder task now than ever. More than ever, these kids have to understand the why. They have to know you care about them. You have to love on them. It is not easy to be an athlete nowadays. Every time they go somewhere, a camera is in their face, or someone wants an autograph. Now, you add NIL and money. I had enough problems at Georgia without that. Relating to these kids is 100 percent a skill. 
     
  • You have to have assistant coaches you trust. I am very interested to see the Collin Klein aspect. He was a running QB. Kansas State is physical and tough every year. Players take on the identity of their coach. A lot of times it is who is coaching them every day. There is a lot to prove on the staff. There is a lot to prove in College Station. I think Mike Elko is a guy that has done it with less talent and outperformed others. I think he can create a culture, and I know he can create a defense. 
     
  • You are not guessing about him coming into this league. He had a four-year stint with the Aggies. He already knows the culture. They were elite on defense when he was there. 
     
  • Conner Weigman has a chance to ascend not just in college football but also draft boards. At the end of the season, he could be a guy you point to and say," I think he could be the No. 1 QB." I think he is that kind of good. When I watch Weigman, the most impressive thing is his ability to negotiate a pocket, feel the rush, and his ability to stay poised is elite. 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 is something that you are born with. Conner Weigman has that. That's why I think this offense can be special.
     
  • Riley Leonard is a strong sucker. He runs it hard. Mike Denbrock comes over from LSU and just won a Heisman trophy with Jayden Daniels. I think the system is going to be extraordinary. The weapons at Notre Dame aren't the greatest out wide. They are unproven.  A&M's secondary isn't proven either. This is a great matchup with two really good QBs. 
     
  • When you come in, your voice does not matter. You need to shut up as a freshman and show people what you are about. When you can show people how hard you work and how much you care, your voice becomes bigger. I didn't have a leadership voice until my sophomore year. When you start making plays you now have a voice. Then, you have to learn how to control that voice. You have to learn when to push people and how to push them. You have to lead people in different ways. I must understand if I can yell at someone or need to be calm and encourage them. Leadership takes on 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 their tackles to the NFL. Then, their next guy, who would be really good, tore his pec in camp. I think they are banged up already up front and inexperienced. Who can protect their QB and run the football will be key? Riley Leonard can do a lot in the running game himself. Defense is hard to play when the QB can run. He can break tackles and go 60-70 yards. When you look at Notre Dame and their weapons, is Mitchell Evans 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 top portal guy. He came from Washington State and Incarnate Word. He is super athletic. He is not big, but he is a playmaker. He gets the ball out of his hands quickly. He will have plenty of weapons at Miami. It is now or never for Miami. Their talent stacks up against anyone in the ACC. The line of scrimmages are both really solid. They got plenty of guys in the portal, and Mario Cristobal has been recruiting at a high level. It is time for them to step up and show it. 
     
  • Tre Harris could have gone to the NFL. Last year, as Jaxson Dart got more comfortable, he kept throwing it to No. 9. He made some sensational plays. Lane Kiffin can obviously coach offense. Harris is big, tall, and athletic. I think Ole Miss' offense is going to be really good. 
     
  • Georgia has some injuries and some suspensions. Trevor Etienne is not going to 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 firmly know who they are. Nate Frazier is the next great running back. He is unbelievable. KJ Bolden is another freshman who will probably plug and play on the back end. The talent is there. The best coach in college football is there.
     
  • It is a tough matchup for Clemson. Matt Luke needs some time. Clemson has been struggling to find weapons and explosive plays. Dabo Swinney not evolving makes it harder to win. If I am Dabo, I have two national championships. I don't need to change who I am. Dabo is one of the best I have seen at getting people to believe and fight. He recruits high school at a great level. They go after Clemson-type guys. Army, Navy, Air Force and Clemson are the only four schools in college football that haven't taken a transfer. It's different, and it's his way.
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David Pollack speaks highly of Weigman ahead of A&M's primetime matchup

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