Georgia football: David Pollack heading to the College Football Hall of Fame

Georgia bulldog legend David Pollack learned Wednesday he will join the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Pollack played four seasons at Georgia, leading the team to two SEC East titles and the SEC Championship in 2002.

If any Georgia football player of the modern era belongs on the same tier as Herschel Walker, its legendary defensive end David Pollack.

The sack-master was a three-time All-American at Georgia and a two-time SEC Player of the Year. He added the Chuck Bednarik (best defensive player – 2004), Lott Trophy (defensive IMPACT player of the year – 2004), Lombardi Award (best lineman – 2004) and a pair of Ted Hendricks Awards (best defensive end – 2003 and 2004) to his list of accolades in college. Now, Pollack can add College football Hall of Fame to that list.

Pollack exemplified leadership while playing at Georgia. He started 45-consecutive games for Georgia football from 2002-to-2004. Pollack actually began his time in Athens as a fullback, but moved to defensive end before and took the defense and the nation by storm.

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Pollack’s school record-breaking 14 sacks in 2002 propelled Georgia’s defense to one of the best in nation. The unit was the backbone of a team that won the SEC Championship and finished 13-1.

Pollack led by example at Georgia, often making huge plays out of nowhere. His interception against Clemson helped preserve a shutout in 2003. His strip-sack in the 2005 Outback Bowl helped the Bulldogs hold on to beat Wisconsin 24-21. Pollack had two other sacks that day and was named Player of the Game.

No play defines David Pollack’s career at Georgia more than his touchdown against South Carolina in 2002. A play that has been shown in perpetuity since it happened. With Georgia clinging to a 3-0 lead on a miserable day in Columbia, Pollack fought off an offensive lineman to reach South Carolina’s quarterback. Too late to make a sack in the end zone, Pollack instead went for the ball, smacking it as it left the passers arm. On his way to the ground, Pollack grabbed the ball for a touchdown. The Bulldogs went on to win 13-7.

The effort on that play is all anyone needs to know about David Pollack as a player because that’s the effort he gave on every down in his three years as a starter. He finished his time at Georgia football with 283 total tackles. He made 58 tackles for a loss in his career for a total loss of 314 yards. 36 of those tackles for a loss were sacks. Pollack added 117 quarterback pressures and four interceptions.

Pollack officially joins the 2020 College football Hall of Fame class during the 63rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 8 at the New York Hilton Midtown. Pollack is the 19th Bulldog inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The most recent Bulldog inducted was Matt Stinchcomb in 2018. Scott Woerner preceded him in 2016.