Isaiah

Pola-Mao

Pola-Mao was set to be a restricted free agent at the start of the season but will now remain under contract with the Raiders through 2026. The former UDFA started 14 of the 17 games he appeared in for the Raiders last season, totaling 89 tackles while breaking up five passes and forcing two fumbles. His extension gives the new regime a key starter in place for next season.

A 2022 UDFA, Pola-Mao was an exclusive rights free agent. Troy Polamalu’s nephew, Pola-Mao has made a few big plays as a reserve safety, including notching a sack each of the past two years.

This is a huge personnel loss for the Trojans, as Pola-Mao (6'4/205) is the team’s starting free safety. The question now is whether this is a one-week issue, or a situation that could cost the redshirt junior multiple games. While Xavion Alford and Chris Thompson Jr. were considered to be the players most likely to fill the void left by Pola-Mao, freshman Calen Bullock was taking the first-team reps in pregame.

Pola-Mao (6'3/190) was healthy enough for non-contact drills this spring, but that was the extent of his workload. The redshirt sophomore underwent what USC HC Clay Helton referred to at the time as “significant” season-ending right shoulder surgery last September. He has twice undergone surgery on that shoulder. So long as his wing holds up on him, Pola-Mao is a likely starter for the fall. Maintaining his health in August camp is going to be huge for him.

“The shoulder surgery that he has is a significant one to hold the shoulder in place,” said HC Clay Helton. Pola-Mao (6'3/190) also underwent surgery on this same shoulder last fall, always a concerning sign. His most recent procedure -- he dislocated his shoulder against Stanford in Week 2 -- is expected to require six months of rehabilitation. Pola-Mao initially signed on with USC as a four-star recruit in the 2017 class. He made his first career start in this year’s opener, against UNLV. Pola-Mao’s sidelining leaves USC uncomfortably thin at safety outside of Marvell Tell. Among those who could help fill in, C.J. Pollard, Talanoa Hufanga and Chase Williams (shifted from corner to safety last week).

While Rivals lists Pola-Mao as an athlete, with position yet to be determined, Scout.com sees the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder as a safety once he hits USC’s campus. Pola-Mao was also considering committing to Arizona State and Washington. Scout’s Blair Angulo notes that he “reacts well to plays, whether that be an over-the-top pass or an underneath dump-off, and he can also produce some big hits up the middle.” A minor interesting note on Pola-Mao: He is the nephew of Troy Polamalu, former Trojan and Steelers great.