Tony Pollard makes the mental health summit a priority

On By Vaseline

Tony Pollard had a tight schedule. The former Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans running back made a brief stop in Memphis, and it was important for him to attend a mental health summit.

Pollard stopped by the Bend Dxnt Break Athletes Summit at Hope Church on Saturday afternoon. He was joined by keynote speaker CL Shepherd and notable Memphis celebrities, former Grizzlies player Tony Allen and rapper Project Pat.

The group spoke to high school students in the Memphis area on Saturday. The two-day event started on Friday. Nearly 500 students from the Memphis area attended the events, coming from high schools such as Whitehaven, KIPP, Manassas, Germantown, ECS, Oakhaven, Houston and Briarcrest.

“Just being able to talk to the young people, I try to make sure they’re going in the right direction and keeping their heads on the right track,” Pollard, a former Memphis football player and Melrose standout, told The Commercial Appeal .

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Shepherd, who travels around the country speaking at meetings similar to a two-day summit, wanted to empathize with the students as someone who struggled with mental health as a teenager.

For Project Pat, Saturday was about continuing to show up and make his voice heard in Memphis, where he can leave an impact. Allen has increased his presence at these types of events in Memphis in recent months.

“I like to focus on areas of need because at one point I was that person,” Allen told The Commercial Appeal. “Growing up, I had a lot of problems that I thought were normal. That’s what I want to do. Change the community norm.”

Tony Pollard talks about joining the Tennessee Titans

Several students from Hope Church were in attendance wearing Dallas Cowboys No. 20 Pollard jerseys. After Pollard signed with the Tennessee Titans, those jerseys are now throwbacks.

Pollard joined the Titans in March, bringing him closer to his roots in Memphis. While Pollard said he made a business decision by moving from Dallas to Nashville, he called being closer to home “the icing on the cake.” Playing less than three hours from Memphis influenced his decision.

“I enjoyed it. I’ve been able to come home a lot more, see my family, kids play with their cousins ​​and things like that,” Pollard said.

Being close to home also allows Pollard to keep a closer eye on the Tigers football team.

“It’s been a good program since I’ve been there,” Pollard said. “Every year they get guys in the league, so they’re definitely moving in the right direction.”