Father Ryan kicker Nick Pollard had already committed to Tennessee Tech when he visited the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga last weekend. Not long after arriving on campus, the 2009 Mr. Football Kicker of the Year said, he had a change of heart and realized that UTC was where he wanted to be.
"Usually what they say is when you walk on a college campus it hits you, and you realize this is the place," Pollard said Wednesday after committing to UTC. "I don't want to sound cheesy, but that was kind of what happened to me when I visited. I walked on there, everything was great, the players were great and it just hit me."
Along with liking the Mocs' players and coaches, Pollard said he was very impressed with UTC's criminal justice program.
Pollard, from Smyrna, was 12-for-15 on field goals this season at Father Ryan in Nashville, with a long of 53 yards. He made all 37 extra-point attempts and 50 of his 55 kickoffs were touchbacks.
With the graduation of second-team All-American kicker Craig Camay, Pollard will have a shot at the starting job as a freshman. Mike Hammons, a rising junior, was the 2007 Kicker of the Year but has only punted at UTC. The only other kicker on the roster is walkon Austin Bass, who redshirted as a freshman last season.
UTC 2010 scheduleSept. 4 Appalachian State 6 p.m.Sept. 11 at Jacksonville State 6 p.m.Sept. 18 Eastern Kentucky 6 p.m.Sept. 25 at Western Carolina TBAOct. 9 at The Citadel 2 p.m.Oct. 16 Georgia Southern (HC) 6 p.m.Oct. 23 at Furman TBAOct. 30 Elon 2 p.m.Nov. 6 at Auburn TBANov. 13 Samford 2 p.m.Nov. 20 at Wofford TBA
Pollard is the 12th player to commit to UTC and the second Mr. Football award winner. South Pittsburg quarterback Terrell Robinson was the Class A Back of the Year.
National Signing Day is Feb. 3.
Mocs announce 2010 schedule
Matching or surpassing last season's 6-5 record will be a challenge for the Mocs in 2010 because its schedule, released Wednesday, is expected to be far more difficult.
Non-conference games against Division II Glenville State and a Presbyterian team that finished 0-11, have been replaced with games against Ohio Valley Conference teams Jacksonville State and Eastern Kentucky.
Jacksonville State, which was ranked No. 16 in the final FCS coaches' poll, would have won the OVC if it hadn't been ineligible due to APR penalties, while Eastern Kentucky was 5-6 overall, 5-3 in league play.
The Mocs open their season against defending Southern Conference champion Appalachian State at Finley Stadium. The game is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 4, but UTC athletic director Rick Hart said there is still a chance that it will be moved to Thursday, Sept. 2.
After playing at Jacksonville State on Sept. 11, and at home against Eastern Kentucky the following week, the Mocs' next five games will be against SoCon foes.
The Mocs' guarantee game is at Auburn on Nov. 6, and UTC will receive $425,000 for the game, Hart said.