See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: The Only NFL Combine Takeaways that Matter | AI Impact on CFB | Michigan CFP Push? (March 3, 2026)

Host: David Pollack
Guests/Analysts: Brent Rollins (PFF, On3), Wesley (Contributor)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into major NFL Combine takeaways that truly matter for college football fans, explores how AI is reshaping the sport at every level—including a wild story about AI-generated recruiting highlights—and breaks down Michigan’s chances of returning to the College Football Playoff under new leadership. David Pollack, Brent Rollins, and Wesley offer hard-hitting analysis, memorable stories, and some big predictions for the upcoming season.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. NFL Combine Standouts and Real Insights (00:52–20:17)

Freakish Athletes and Numbers

• Unprecedented Speed and Power: This year was the fastest combine “in every position group for the 40 yard dash all time” (Brent Rollins, 01:43).
  • Noted that “best testers” strategically participate in their best events, which may inflate averages.
• Selection Bias: Top prospects often skip tests that don’t flatter them. “You see how each of these kids chooses, hey, I’m going to do this one and not those two” (Brent Rollins, 02:00).

Environmental and Measurement Factors

• Pro Day vs. Combine: Many athletes prefer pro day for a familiar environment; combine turf and schedule can be challenging.
• Arm Length Drama: “T-Rex controversy”—some players measured much shorter at the combine than at events like Senior Bowl, notably hurting Reuben Bain’s perception (Brent Rollins, 04:15).
  • David, a “short-armed alumnus,” shares a story about fighting 6’9” Dennis Roland and the real impact of leverage in the trenches (04:44).

Notable Individual Performances

• Sonny Styles (Ohio State LB): Only player since 2003 to run sub-4.5, vertical 40+, broad 11+ feet at 230+ pounds (07:08).
  • “That is crazy...he gained a foot on his vertical” from high school (Co-host, 11:05).
• Kenyan Sadiq (Oregon TE): “Faster than Odell Beckham...higher vertical than Julio Jones...more explosive on the broad than Andre Johnson” (Brent Rollins, 09:00).
  • But: “Does not catch the ball naturally…not big enough to be an inline tight end consistently in the league” (Co-host, 09:42).
• Monroe Freeling: OT1 potential, posting elite numbers despite less experience. “He’s got some nasty to him, which I like...he is not a guy that will get worse” (Co-host, 12:08).
• Other Standouts:
  • Mike Washington (Arkansas RB) ran a 4.33 at 223 lbs.
  • Eli Stowers broke the tight end broad/vert record at 44 inches.

Under-the-Radar Schools

• North Dakota State: QB Cole Payton, 232 lbs, ran 4.56 with a 40" vert—joins list of athletic freak QBs like Vick and Anthony Richardson (16:29).
• Development Trends: More youth are training specifically for combine drills earlier and more intensely than ever before (18:38).

Watching the Combine: Big Men or Skill Guys?

• “I’d rather watch the big fellows…the athletes they can be” (Co-host, 19:50).

2. Michigan’s 2026 College Football Playoff Push (20:17–31:22)

Program Reset with New Faces

• Coaching Change: Kyle Whittingham takes over as head coach—praised as “no nonsense,” brings staff and culture from Utah (20:17).
• Biggest Addition: Bryce Underwood, “the most highly paid and sought after QB” in the country, draws Cam Newton comparisons (Co-host, 21:08).

Offensive Shift

• First True #1 WR Since 2013: “Andrew Marsh…going to be a thousand-yard receiver” (Co-host, 22:18). Rare at Michigan.
• Loaded Backfield: Jordan Marshall and Savion Hitter (“#1 RB recruit”) provide options.

Schedule & Key Matchups

• Early Test: Home game vs. Oklahoma (huge CFP implications) (24:05).
• Favorable Schedule: 7 of first 9 at home, only two early away games, but end stretch includes road games at Oregon and Ohio State (24:44).

Coaching Dynamics

• Impact of Whittingham: Potential challenge with “diva” recruits vs. Utah-style grinders.
  • “He’s gonna have some personalities to massage and work, but I don’t think they’re worse. I think it can only get better…and the stability will be better” (Co-host, 26:20).
• Transfers/Recruits: Large influx from Utah—concern over injuries (e.g., John Henry Daly’s Achilles) (27:08).

Bryce Underwood Expectations

• Reasonable year two statline: 3,000 yards, 22 TD, 7 INT (28:38)
  • Needs improvement in “details and fundamentals;” Whittingham expected to develop him (Co-host, 28:54).
• Schematics: Discussion on tailoring system to Underwood’s dual-threat skills (29:37).

Final Verdict

• “Are they a playoff team?”
  • “They’re right on the fringe...In the end, I’ll say yes. I say Bryce Underwood takes the next step...If they can get Oklahoma early...that’s huge” (Co-host, 31:14).

3. Game-Changing Defensive Coordinators for 2026 (31:22–44:35)

Pollack’s Top DC Hires

• 1. Will Muschamp (Texas): Ex-head coach brings aggressive scheme and much-needed “edge”.
  • “Your scheme will not be play it safe...plenty of attitude, plenty of toughness” (Co-host, 31:22).
• 2. Vince Karras (Syracuse): A “developer,” not a recruiter; led Toledo to #4 national defense.
  • “Carrier Dome can rock...there hasn’t been a lot of defense. I think his impact is gonna be a heck of a lot better than it was” (Co-host, 33:13).
• 3. Jim Knowles (Tennessee): High-priced poaching; “was beloved” for revamps at OSU, Penn State.
• 4. Gary Patterson (USC): Ex-TCU head coach, brings innovation to a blue-blood program with more “dudes”.
  • “Never had those resources, never had those dudes...now what does he turn them into?” (Co-host, 36:45).
• 5. D’Anton Lynn (Penn State): Instantly improved D at UCLA in 2023 and stabilized USC; now brings NFL/development-minded approach “back home”.

Pressure, Opportunity, and Old Friends

• Texas All-In: Muschamp and now Mark Stoops—“chips all in,” creating a defensive think tank (Brent Rollins, 41:45).
• Interesting Returns:
  • Zach Arnett to Mississippi State
  • Brent Pry, ex-VT head coach, now DC under Franklin at Penn State—unique dynamic (43:33).

4. AI’s Growing Role (and Chaos) in College Football (45:04–51:55)

AI-Faked Recruiting Highlights

• Shocking Trend: High school players are now using AI to fake their Hudl highlight tapes. “Makes college coaches’ jobs even harder” (Co-host, 45:57).
  • Wesley: “If a kid uses AI…gets a scholarship…then just gets, you know, murdered first day of practice” (45:57).
• Story: NIL contract stipulations—even agent-written contracts are being generated by ChatGPT (Wesley, 47:51).

AI Used by Coaches and Players

• Analytical Edge: AI helps with real-time in-game decisions (e.g., 4th down calls); already common in the NFL, starting to trickle down to college (Brent Rollins, 50:29).
  • “Where AI might be helping is when you’re doing that in real time...modeling as the game's going” (Rollins, 50:29).
• Limitations and Dangers: “They’re not always right...sometimes it’s a year behind” or just wrong info (Co-host, 51:12).
• Educational Angle: “Can you spot when it’s wrong?” AI won’t replace people who know how to use it effectively (Brent Rollins, 51:54).

5. Who Won the Weekend? (52:23–EP End)

Brent’s Picks

• North Dakota High School Sports: Both boys and girls teams headed to elite eight.
• White Skill Guys at the Combine: “Questions about athleticism, a.k.a. he’s white...skill guys are making a comeback” (53:36).
  • Humorous banter on stereotypes; “Haynes King did make a big white guy mistake…he wore black shoes” (Brent Rollins, 53:57).

Pollack’s Pick

• Mississippi’s No State Income Tax: Now, “every athlete in the state of Mississippi...your contract is fantastic. Smart, smart job by Mississippi courts” (Co-host, 54:44).
  • “It’s already an advantage...when you’re buying in, having a contract. Mississippi joins Arkansas...” (Co-host, 54:44).

Wesley’s Pick

• Texas keeps winning: Adds Mark Stoops, brings in transfer portal “crown jewel” Cam Coleman (“blank check”) (Wesley, 55:56).
  • Debate on whether Texas is “bringing in too many people”—potential for too many egos.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Combine Freakishness
  “Players to run sub 4.5 with a 40-plus inch vertical, an 11 foot plus broad jump at 230-plus pounds since 2003. That list includes one dude, Sonny Styles this weekend. Unbelievable.” – Brent Rollins (07:08)

• On Arm Length Controversy
  “Now gets the T-Rex treatment, unfortunately.” – Brent Rollins on Reuben Bain (04:15)

• On Coaching Dynamics
  “I think it would be easy to say yes with looking at [Whittingham’s] track record, but he’s also with a different clientele...he’s gonna have some divas.” – Co-host (26:16)

• On AI and Recruiting
  “Players in high school are using AI to fake their huddle tapes…and that in and of itself is impressive, but it’s also dumb, potentially fatal mistake.” – Wesley (45:04)

• On AI in Coaching
  “Where AI might be helping…[is] in real time, when the modeling is coming through…you can make in-game decisions a little bit faster. But I feel like the human element’s always going to be there.” – Brent Rollins (50:29)

• On Texas’ Defensive Edge
  “Muschamp has to go develop that culture…he is going to come in there chewing suckers out, laying down the law and making them understand what it’s going to take…Texas needs an edge.” – Co-host (42:08)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:52 – Episode start, combine fever, Pollack and Rollins dive into athletic trends
• 04:15 – Arm length/T-Rex debate and impact on prospects
• 07:08 – Sonny Styles’ performance, combine superlatives
• 09:00–11:02 – Kenyan Sadiq’s freak metrics and positional fit
• 12:08 – Monroe Freeling as a potential OT1
• 16:29–18:27 – North Dakota State’s combine risers, QB athletic comps
• 20:17–31:22 – Michigan’s CFP outlook, Underwood, schedule, and transitions
• 31:22–44:35 – New wave of game-changing defensive coordinators for 2026
• 45:04–51:55 – AI’s impact on CFB: fake highlights, contracts, analytics, limits
• 52:23–End – Who won the weekend? Pollack, Rollins, and Wesley share winners (sports, income tax, Texas talent influx)

Summary

This episode is a whirlwind of combine intrigue, insightful analysis of evolving team rosters, and a candid discussion of technology’s impact on college football, all delivered with Pollack’s signature humor and energy. If you want the actual NFL Combine takeaways that matter, a pragmatic CFP preview for Michigan, and a real-world look at AI’s benefits and pitfalls in college football (with stories wild enough for any fan), this is the definitive breakdown.

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