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Makai Polk NFL Draft Profile
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Makai Polk Scouting ReportPolk has smooth acceleration and deceiving speed. He established a single season high in receptions (105) and yards (1,046). He also registered nine touchdowns. He is balanced and very fast with the ball in his hands. He gets off the line with a nice burst and is very fluid in his movements with little wasted steps in his routes. Makai has a knack for getting open and became his quarterback's best friend. He has elite balance tight roping the sidelines. He is very smooth in and out of his breaks. He shows excellent start stop ability and burst. He is a savvy, natural pass catcher with reliable hands and very good focus. Makai has strong hands and tracks the deep ball over either shoulder without breaking stride. He is willing to lower his pads to run through tackles for extra yardage. He is fearless going over the middle, can spin out of tackles and takes the big hit. In the open field he is slippery after the catch. Polk has a knack for getting open and he can beat press jams off the line of scrimmage with elusiveness or physical contact. He gives good effort and technique as a blocker for his size. In the open field has long arms to stiff arm defensive backs in the open field. |
Areas for ImprovementMakai does not always use his hands to secure deep throws, allowing the ball into his pads and chest. He is not a burner or consistent vertical threat. He has a lanky frame and will be overmatched physically by most cornerbacks in the NFL. He needs to be more competitive in tight coverage.
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Makai Polk Career at California/Mississippi StateMakai Polk prepped his final season at El Cerrito High School. He lettered twice at Dorsey High School. He was a three-star recruit per ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports. Makai was tabbed a top-100 recruit in California per 247Sports. As a senior, logged 42 tackles and eight interceptions and he made 30 receptions for 900 yards and 10 touchdowns. Makai made his collegiate debut at UC Davis. His first career reception went for eight yards. As a freshman in 2019 at University of California he appeared in all 13 games and five starts. He started the final four games of the season. He registered 16 receptions for 276 yards and both touchdown grabs over the final five games after making just three catches for 19 yards over the first eight. He generated six explosive (15 plus yard) receptions. Polk in his sophomore season in 2020 campaign he appeared in four games with two starts. He registered 20 receptions on the season, which would be his last season with the Golden Bears as he would transfer to Mississippi State the following year. On a season that made his campaign special, in 2021 as a redshirt sophomore he amassed a whopping 105 catches and 1,046 yards both school records for the Bulldogs.
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Makai Polk NFL Draft Player ProfileAlthough Polk only spent one season with the Bulldogs, he quickly became the team's leading receiver. The redshirt sophomore led all wide receivers in nearly every category and finished the season with 105 receptions for 1,046 yards and nine touchdowns. Polk had four games in which he totaled more than 100 receiving yards-- the highest of which was 136 yards against Memphis-- and scored two touchdowns in each game against Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Auburn. Despite a slow start, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound athlete quickly rose to the top. Polk had 57 yards against Louisiana Tech to start the season, then followed that performance up with a season-low 33 yards against NC State. However, he improved vastly from there. Polk tied former Mississippi State athlete Fred Ross's single-season reception record when he caught his 88th pass against Tennessee State on Nov. 20. He broke that record against Ole Miss and extended his lead by a good bit by adding 17 more receptions through the final two games of the season. In the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Texas Tech, Polk also broke Mardye McDole's record for receiving yards in a single season. McDole recorded 1,035 yards nearly 45 years ago, so for the young transfer to break it during his first season with the program was incredibly impressive.
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