Pollard, 18, signed the next four-plus years over to Penn State, a decision that had been met with skepticism since he committed Dec. 29, becoming the first player to make a commitment since the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal broke on Nov. 4.
Pollard had paid little attention to the Sandusky news and its ugly aftermath. It had been tough for Pollard to take anything too seriously after that fateful day in 2007 when his two little sisters were found dead at the hands of his older brother.
Pollard's signing with any school to play football and receive a free education was considered a miracle and a testament to the power of community in his Gloucester County township.
It was all on him now, but did he really appreciate the stakes?
"Nothing," Pollard said, "is as important as life and death."
A fateful night
Jamil Pollard had been his little sisters' primary babysitter for years, and Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007, seemed like any other day.
After school, his mother, Lucille Bevans, was working at her job at a fast-food restaurant, and his sisters, A'aliah Scott, 10, and India Duncan, 6, had asked the 13-year-old Jamil to take them to play at a park. He said no.
Jamil instead joined his friends playing basketball at a local community center. A'aliah and India were left in the care of their older brother, 18-year-old Marqueese Lee.
For the previous year, Marqueese had not been himself. Jamil and his mother had theories about the cause of the change, but they did not really know. Marqueese had begun to hear voices in his head. He went to a psychiatric facility, but nothing was found to be wrong.
Jamil's mother and older brother were fighting often, and she eventually kicked him out of the house. He would usually come by only to shower or to lay his head on a pillow.
