1. Overview
Ja'Lynn Polk (born April 11, 2002) is an American professional football wide receiver for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Polk played college football at Texas Tech and Washington, concluding his collegiate career as a runner-up in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship. He was selected by the Patriots as the 37th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, marking the beginning of his professional journey.
2. Early Life
Ja'Lynn Polk was born on April 11, 2002. He attended Lufkin High School in Lufkin, Texas.
2.1. High School Career
During his high school career, Ja'Lynn Polk demonstrated significant talent, recording a total of 131 receptions for 2,412 yards and 24 touchdowns. His impressive performance led him to commit to Texas Tech University to play college football.
3. College Career
Ja'Lynn Polk's collegiate career spanned two institutions: Texas Tech University and the University of Washington, where he developed as a wide receiver despite facing challenges including injuries.
3.1. Texas Tech University
Polk played one season at Texas Tech in 2020. He started seven of 10 games, accumulating 28 receptions for 264 yards and two touchdowns.
3.2. University of Washington
In 2021, Polk transferred to the University of Washington. His first year at Washington was impacted by injury, limiting him to only three games, with two starts, resulting in five receptions for 114 yards and one touchdown. He recovered from a dislocated clavicle during this period. In 2022, Polk served as the team's third receiver, playing alongside notable teammates Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan. That season, he significantly improved his performance, achieving 41 receptions for 694 yards and six touchdowns. He returned to Washington for the 2023 season, where he had a standout year, playing in 15 games and recording 69 receptions for 1,159 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. This stellar performance contributed to the team's success in reaching the College Football Playoff National Championship, where they finished as the runner-up. Following the 2024 CFP National Championship game, Polk declared his eligibility for the 2024 NFL draft.
4. Professional Career
Ja'Lynn Polk's professional career began with his selection in the NFL Draft, followed by his rookie contract and initial performances with the New England Patriots.
4.1. NFL Draft and Contract
Polk was selected by the New England Patriots with the 37th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Prior to the draft, his physical attributes and athletic capabilities were evaluated at the NFL Scouting Combine.
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 feet 1 3/8 inches |
| Weight | 203 lb (203 lb) |
| 40-yard dash | 4.52 seconds |
| 10-yard split | 1.52 seconds |
| 20-yard split | 2.65 seconds |
| Vertical jump | 37.5 in |
| Broad jump | 10 feet 9 inches |
| Arm span | 31 3/4 inches |
| Hand span | 9 3/4 inches |
On June 13, 2024, Polk signed his four-year rookie contract with the Patriots, valued at 9.70 M USD, which included a signing bonus of 3.87 M USD.
4.2. New England Patriots
Polk made a significant early impact with the Patriots. In the first quarter of Week 2, during a game against the Seattle Seahawks, he scored his first career NFL touchdown. This touchdown came from a five-yard pass thrown by quarterback Jacoby Brissett, though the game ultimately resulted in a 20-23 overtime loss for the Patriots.
5. NFL Career Statistics
5.1. Regular season
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games played (GP) | Games started (GS) | Receptions (Rec) | Receiving yards (Yds) | Yards per reception (Y/R) | Longest reception (Lng) | Receiving touchdowns (TD) | Rushing attempts (Att) | Rushing yards (Yds) | Yards per rushing attempt (Y/A) | Longest rushing attempt (Lng) | Rushing touchdowns (TD) | Fumbles (Fum) | Fumbles lost (Lost) | ||
| 2024 | NE | 14 | 7 | 12 | 87 | 7.3 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PolkJa00.htm Career] | 14 | 7 | 12 | 87 | 7.3 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |