Assistant Coach Tayler Polk

TAYLER POLK

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

@Tayler24Polk

Tayler Polk begins his first season as Troy’s inside linebackers’ coach following two seasons at Central Arkansas.

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.

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.

POLK FILE

YEAR AT TROY: AGE: HOMETOWN: WIFE: HIGH SCHOOL: ALMA MATER:

PLAYING CAREER

2013-17 1st (2022) 27 (Jan. 6, 1995) Magee, Miss. Eliza Brandon HS (‘13) Ole Miss (‘17) - B.S. General Studies Ole Miss (‘19) - M.S. Teaching

Ole Miss

COACHING CAREER

Troy (Inside Linebackers)

Central Arkansas Linebackers / Special Teams Outside Linebackers Ole Miss (Graduate Assistant)

2022

2020-21 2021 2020 2018-19