Bernard Pollard attended South Side High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana where he played football, basketball and ran track. As a junior he totaled 103 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 2 fumble recoveries. As a senior he finished with 111 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 13 forced fumbles. He also caught 14 passes for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns on offense. He was named first team all-state and area player of the year for his performance as a senior. Bernard was considered to be one of the top 3 players in the state and one of the better safety prospects in the nation. He accepted a scholarship to play for Purdue University where he made an immediate impact. As a freshman he totaled 66 tackles with a pass breakup and a fumble recovery. He was named to the all-freshman list of numerous publications for his play. As a sophomore he led the team in tackles with 96 stops on the year. He also had a sack, 5 pass breakups, and an interception. On special teams he led the team in blocked kicks with 4 on the season. He was named honorable mention all-big ten for his performance. As a junior, Bernard led the team in tackles for the second consecutive season with 92 on the year. He also had a fumble recovery, 3 pass breakups, and a career high 3 interceptions. Bernard still has another year of eligibility left but he opted to leave school early to enter the 2006 NFL draft.

Bernard Pollard has a good combination of size and strength for a strong safety. Although he did leave school early, he does have a good deal of experience, having started the past three seasons for the Boilermakers. He is a very instinctive player who possesses good range for the safety position. Bernard is an outstanding run defender in the secondary. He is a physical player and an extremely hard hitter. He sheds blocks well and is a fundamentally sound tackler. He excels at making tackles in the open field. Bernard lacks great speed and change of direction ability. He can be a liability in coverage as he lacks great ball skills. He struggles in man coverage and needs to improve his technique. Bernard Pollard would’ve benefited from another year in school, but he does have a great deal of upside. His ability to contribute on special teams (four blocked kicks as a sophomore) will only help his draft day value. Bernard looks like a second day pick right now with the ability to move up if he displays good athleticism in his workouts.