Auburn football: Crowded LB room adds 2022 3-star offer

Historically if you ask most Auburn football fans whether they’d bet on the offense or defense, many would probably feel safer depending on the defense. The linebacker position was an area of strength for the Auburn defense in recent years with K.J. Britt, Owen Pappoe, and Zakoby McClain leading the group.

With the latter two players returning in addition to Chandler Wooten making his return to the Plains, the LBs should be just as strong in the coming season. Unfortunately, this also means that we could see our talented veteran linebackers leaving for the big leagues sooner than we’d like.

However, recruiting never ends, as head coach Bryan Harsin says, so he and his staff are already looking ahead to the 2022 season with an offer extended to three-star outside linebacker Micah Pollard from the Jacksonville, FL area.

The #71 recruit out of the state of Florida, Pollard is being heavily recruited by Michigan, where he has already set an official visit for June 4, according to 247 Sports.

Micah Pollard finished his junior season at Bartram Trail High with 55 total tackles, 29 of which were solo tackles, 11 sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovery, per MaxPreps.com. His primary recruiter from Auburn football has been Jeff Schmedding, the defensive run game coordinator and inside linebackers coach.

Pollard is the No. 36 outside linebacker recruit in the class of 2022 and has received upwards of 20 offers, but so far seems most interested in Michigan. Around the SEC, Pollard has so far received offers from Kentucky, South Carolina, and Mississippi State in addition to Auburn.

Though the Tigers could definitely use the skill of Micah Pollard in the next several years, it may be hard to make a case for the three-star in 2022 due to the talent and depth on the Auburn roster at the LB position.