Makai Polk

Makai Polk
refer to caption
Polk with the Toronto Argonauts in 2024
No. 15 – Toronto Argonauts
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (2001-08-04) August 4, 2001 (age 23)
Richmond, California
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:197 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school:El Cerrito High School
(El Cerrito, California)
College:California (2019–2020)
Mississippi State (2021)
Undrafted:2022
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
CFL status:American
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Stats at CFL.ca

Makai Polk (born August 4, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a Grey Cup champion after winning with Argonauts in 2024. He played college football at California before transferring to Mississippi State.

Early life

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Polk grew up in Richmond, California and initially attended Susan Miller Dorsey High School before transferring to El Cerrito High School before his senior year.[1]

College career

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Polk began his collegiate career with the California Golden Bears. He finished his freshman season with 19 receptions for 295 yards and 2 touchdowns.[2] Polk played in four games in the Golden Bears' COVID-19-shortened 2020 season and caught 17 passes for 183 yards and one touchdown.[3] After the end of the season, Polk entered the transfer portal.[4]

Polk ultimately transferred to Mississippi State.[5] He was named a starter going into his first season with the team and led the Southeastern Conference with 105 receptions for 1,048 yards and nine touchdowns.[6][7] Following the end of the season, he declared that he would forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility and enter the 2022 NFL draft.[8]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3+1⁄8 in
(1.91 m) 		195 lb
(88 kg) 		32+1⁄4 in
(0.82 m) 		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 4.59 s 1.53 s 2.59 s 4.34 s 7.06 s 32.5 in
(0.83 m)		 10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)		 6 reps
Sources:[9][10]

Baltimore Ravens (first stint)

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Polk was signed as a free agent out of college by the Baltimore Ravens in May 2022, after going undrafted.[11] He was waived on August 30, 2022, and signed to the practice squad the next day.[12][13] He was waived on September 27.[14]

New York Giants

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On September 28, 2022, Polk was signed by the New York Giants to their practice squad.[15] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 22, 2023.[16] He was waived on July 24, 2023.[17]

Baltimore Ravens (second stint)

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Polk was claimed off waivers by the Ravens on July 25, 2023.[18] He was waived on August 10, 2023.

Toronto Argonauts

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On May 20, 2024, it was announced that Polk had signed with the Toronto Argonauts.[19] Following training camp, he made the team's opening day lineup where he played and started in his first professional game on June 9, 2024, against the BC Lions, where he had three receptions for 40 yards.[20][21] He scored his first touchdown on June 28, 2024, against the Montreal Alouettes, on a 40-yard pass from Bryan Scott.[22]

After being sent to the practice roster in week 5, Polk returned to the starting lineup in the following week.[21] He had his first 100-yard receiving game against the Ottawa Redblacks on September 7, 2024, where he had seven catches for 105 yards.[20] He finished the season with five 100-yard games in the last seven regular season games to finish as the team's leading receiver.[21] In 2024, Polk played in 17 regular season games where he had 61 receptions for 1,024 yards and five touchdowns.[20] For his strong season, he was named to the East Division All-CFL team.[23] He also played in all three post-season games, including the 111th Grey Cup where he had four receptions for 42 yards in the Argonauts' 41–24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[24]

References

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  1. ^ Barrows, Matt (April 13, 2022). "'He's a real special talent': WR Makai Polk headlines the 49ers' local pro day". The Athletic. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  2. ^ Faulk, Robbie (September 2, 2021). "Transfer receivers making themselves at home in Air Raid at Mississippi State". 247Sports.com. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  3. ^ "Makai Polk 2020 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  4. ^ Travers, Trace (January 8, 2021). "WR Makai Polk Enters Transfer Portal". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  5. ^ Becker, Jon (January 11, 2021). "Cal adds Florida State safety, loses receiver to Mississippi State". The Mercury News. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  6. ^ Krajisnik, Stefan (March 3, 2022). "Makai Polk succeeds because he believes he's the best. NFL provides chance to prove it". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  7. ^ Maiocco, Matt (April 13, 2022). "Mississippi State receiver Polk headlines 49ers' local pro day". NBC Sports Bay Area. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  8. ^ Kostka, Andy (January 2, 2022). "Makai Polk, record-breaking Mississippi State wideout, declares for NFL draft". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  9. ^ "Makai Polk Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  10. ^ "2022 Draft Scout Makai Polk, Mississippi State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  11. ^ Froyd, Crissy (May 2, 2022). "Where Each Former Bulldog Landed in the 2022 NFL Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  12. ^ Mink, Ryan (August 30, 2022). "Ravens Make Roster Cuts to 53". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  13. ^ Mink, Ryan (August 31, 2022). "Ravens Set Initial Practice Squad". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  14. ^ Mink, Ryan (September 27, 2022). "Ravens Add Veteran Outside Linebacker and Guard to Practice Squad". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  15. ^ Eisen, Michael (September 28, 2022). "Giants sign CB Fabian Moreau off practice squad; Sterling Shepard to IR". Giants.com. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  16. ^ "Giants sign 12 to reserve/future contracts". Giants.com. January 22, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  17. ^ Citak, Matt (July 24, 2023). "Giants sign defensive tackle Brandin Bryant; 2 waived". Giants.com.
  18. ^ Mink, Ryan (July 25, 2023). "Ravens Bring Back Wide Receiver Makai Polk". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  19. ^ "Argos Sign American WR Makai Polk". Toronto Argonauts. May 20, 2024.
  20. ^ a b c "Makai Polk". Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  21. ^ a b c "Game Notes" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  22. ^ "Toronto Argonauts vs Montreal Alouettes". Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  23. ^ "Harris and Mitchell headline 2024 Divisional All-CFL squads". Canadian Football League. October 30, 2024.
  24. ^ "Play-by-Play, 111th Grey Cup". Canadian Football League. November 17, 2024.
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