Troy University Athletics
Troy Tabs Tayler Polk to Coach Inside Linebackers
1/20/2022 8:15:00 AM | Football
TROY, Ala. – Tayler Polk has been named Troy's new inside linebackers coach, head coach Jon Sumrall announced Thursday. Polk joins the Troy staff following two seasons at Central Arkansas.
"I had the pleasure of getting to know Tayler when he was a graduate assistant at Ole Miss," Sumrall said. "He's one of the brightest young coaches in the game and has a motor that never stops. Tayler did a fantastic job with not only the linebackers but also the special teams while he was at Central Arkansas, and we're excited to welcome him and Eliza to the Troy Family."
Polk coached the Bears' outside linebackers in 2020 before taking over the entire unit for the 2021 season. Central Arkansas led the FCS ranks in turnovers forced and defensive touchdowns during the 2020 campaign while also ranking third in sacks and tackles for loss and fifth in third-down defense.
"My wife Eliza and I couldn't be more excited to be here at Troy University and to be working with Coach Sumrall again," Polk said. "It's clear to see that Troy is a special place, and we're beyond grateful to call Troy home."
The Bears' special teams were strong under Polk, with the kickoff return unit finishing 11th nationally in 2021, while the 2020 team ranked first in kickoff returns, second in punt returns, fourth in kickoff coverage and fifth in punt coverage.
Under his mentorship, Logan Jessup earned All-Southland Conference honors with 11 tackles for loss and six sacks in 2020, while Trenton Dunn finished fifth in the league in tackles in 2021.
A four-year letterwinner at linebacker for Ole Miss, Polk played in every game for the Rebels from 2014-17 with five career starts. A native of Brandon, Miss., Polk recorded 35 tackles in the Mississippi 6A state title game his senior season.
Following his playing career, Polk was a graduate assistant for two seasons at Ole Miss working with the Rebels' linebackers and special teams units, including the 2018 season with Sumrall. Polk played a key role in Ole Miss improving its rushing defense from 110th nationally to 44th.
Polk graduated from Ole Miss with a bachelor's degree in general studies in 2017 and received his master's from Ole Miss in teaching in 2019. He is married to the former Eliza Adcock.
"I had the pleasure of getting to know Tayler when he was a graduate assistant at Ole Miss," Sumrall said. "He's one of the brightest young coaches in the game and has a motor that never stops. Tayler did a fantastic job with not only the linebackers but also the special teams while he was at Central Arkansas, and we're excited to welcome him and Eliza to the Troy Family."
Polk coached the Bears' outside linebackers in 2020 before taking over the entire unit for the 2021 season. Central Arkansas led the FCS ranks in turnovers forced and defensive touchdowns during the 2020 campaign while also ranking third in sacks and tackles for loss and fifth in third-down defense.
"My wife Eliza and I couldn't be more excited to be here at Troy University and to be working with Coach Sumrall again," Polk said. "It's clear to see that Troy is a special place, and we're beyond grateful to call Troy home."
The Bears' special teams were strong under Polk, with the kickoff return unit finishing 11th nationally in 2021, while the 2020 team ranked first in kickoff returns, second in punt returns, fourth in kickoff coverage and fifth in punt coverage.
Under his mentorship, Logan Jessup earned All-Southland Conference honors with 11 tackles for loss and six sacks in 2020, while Trenton Dunn finished fifth in the league in tackles in 2021.
A four-year letterwinner at linebacker for Ole Miss, Polk played in every game for the Rebels from 2014-17 with five career starts. A native of Brandon, Miss., Polk recorded 35 tackles in the Mississippi 6A state title game his senior season.
Following his playing career, Polk was a graduate assistant for two seasons at Ole Miss working with the Rebels' linebackers and special teams units, including the 2018 season with Sumrall. Polk played a key role in Ole Miss improving its rushing defense from 110th nationally to 44th.
Polk graduated from Ole Miss with a bachelor's degree in general studies in 2017 and received his master's from Ole Miss in teaching in 2019. He is married to the former Eliza Adcock.
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