Long before he became the featured back for the Dallas Cowboys, Tony Pollard was once part of what’s now a famed backfield in college football lore.
Before he was in a building with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons, he was in a room with guys who would eventually play in Super Bowls.
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Tony Pollard Was Once a Part of a Stacked Memphis Backfield
Pollard, a Memphis, Tenn., native, was considered a prized local get for the University of Memphis Tigers.
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But one look at who was also in that backfield, and Memphis could vie for the new title of “Running Back U.”
Pollard once shared backfield duties with Darrell Henderson — the same “Hendo” who went on to help lead the Los Angeles Rams to their Super Bowl 56 victory.
But there’s more outside of Henderson. Three more, to be exact.
Before Kenneth Gainwell took handoffs from Jalen Hurts with the Philadelphia Eagles, he was shredding defenses out of the Tigers’ backfield. Also in that Memphis group of backs? Antonio Gibson, now with the Washington Commanders. There was one more from this crew who went on to the league: Patrick Taylor Jr., who was last seen with the Green Bay Packers.
That’s five different future NFL backs Memphis was blessed with. Pollard, Gainwell, Gibson, and Henderson all went on to become draft picks — and they were all together in 2018.
How Has Pollard Fared Compared to His Tiger Teammates?
Of the five, Pollard has been the one to deliver Pro Bowl-caliber numbers.
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Last season, we witnessed Pollard emerge as a first-time Pro Bowler. Supplanting himself as the No. 1 back over former top-five pick Ezekiel Elliott, Pollard finished with 1,378 all-purpose yards and scored 12 touchdowns. The 2022 campaign was also Pollard’s first 1,000-yard season.
How have the other Tigers fared? Here’s a rundown:
- Henderson: 396 carries, 1,742 yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, 17 total touchdowns, scored a combined eight times during the Rams’ Super Bowl run. Currently an unsigned free agent.
- Gainwell: 162 carries, 672 yards, 10 touchdowns (nine rushing), produced four rushing touchdowns for the NFC champions last year.
- Taylor: 44 carries, 151 rushing yards, one career touchdown (during his rookie season of 2021), has never rushed for more than 90 yards in a single season.
- Gibson: 593 carries, 2,447 rushing yards, 21 rushing scores, 137 career receptions, 1,027 receiving yards, six more scores through the air, has one 1,000-yard rushing season (1,037 in 2021).
Pollard is the lone Pro Bowler from this group of five. Gibson, though, has been close in production to the Cowboy. Gainwell and Henderson, meanwhile, have experienced a Super Bowl.
Nevertheless, “Grind City” became a running back hotbed thanks to Pollard and Co.
