Last September, Kyle Flood announced that Rutgers defensive tackle Jamil Pollard would not be able to continue playing football due to undisclosed injuries, though he would "remain in our program."
Fast-forward six months, and Pollard has done more than simply remain in Piscataway and work towards his degree; per Star-Ledger reporter Tom Luicci, Flood announced Monday that Pollard recovered enough from his injuries that he's making a return to the team this spring:
DT Jamil Pollard back on the Rutgers roster. He originally stopped playing for good because of an injury, according to coach Kyle Flood.
— Tom Luicci (@TomLuicci) March 24, 2014
The news will be highly welcome for Scarlet Knight fans if Pollard can come anywhere close to fulfilling the potential that saw him rated a four-star recruit, top-20 defensive tackle, and top-200 prospect overall by 247Sports in the class of 2012.
A West Deptford, N.J. product, Pollard initially signed with Penn State, then transferred to Rutgers in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. He redshirted in 2012.
Flood also announced that reserve defenders Max Issaka (a defensive lineman) and Sheldon Royster (a safety) are no longer with the team. Issaka appeared in three games in 2013, recording two tackles, while Royster -- a former South Carolina transfer -- did not accumulate any stats in four appearances. They had been suspended for the Scarlet Knights' Pinstripe Bowl appearance due to a violation of team rules.
HT: On the Banks
