Makai Polk
Polk with the Toronto Argonauts in 2024 | |
| Toronto Argonauts | |
|---|---|
| Position | Wide receiver |
| Roster status | Active |
| CFL status | American |
| Personal information | |
| Born | August 4, 2001 Richmond, California, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 197 lb (89 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | El Cerrito High School (El Cerrito, California) |
| College | California (2019–2020) Mississippi State (2021) |
| NFL draft | 2022: undrafted |
| Career history | |
| |
* Offseason or practice squad member only | |
| Awards and highlights | |
| 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 the Argonauts in the 2024. He played college football for the California Golden Bears before transferring to the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Early life
[edit]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
[edit]Polk began his collegiate career at the University of California, Berkeley, 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 University.[5] He was named a starter going into his first season with the Bulldogs 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
[edit]| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Wingspan | 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) | 6 ft 5+7⁄8 in (1.98 m) | 4.59 s | 1.55 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 |
| All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[9][10][11] | ||||||||||||
Baltimore Ravens
[edit]Polk was signed as a free agent out of college by the Baltimore Ravens in May 2022, after going undrafted.[12] He was waived on August 30, and was re-signed to the team's practice squad the following day.[13][14] Polk was waived by Baltimore on September 27.[15]
New York Giants
[edit]On September 28, 2022, Polk was signed to the practice squad of the New York Giants.[16] He signed a reserve/future contract with New York on January 22, 2023.[17] Polk was waived by the Giants on July 24.[18]
Baltimore Ravens (second stint)
[edit]Polk was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Ravens on July 25, 2023.[19] He was waived by the Ravens on August 10.
Toronto Argonauts
[edit]On May 20, 2024, it was announced that Polk had signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.[20] Following training camp, he made the team's Opening Day lineup, where he played and started in his first professional game on June 9 against the BC Lions; in the game, he recorded three receptions for 40 yards.[21][22] Polk scored his first touchdown on June 28, against the Montreal Alouettes, on a 40-yard pass from Bryan Scott.[23]
After being sent to the practice roster in Week 5, Polk returned to the starting lineup in the following week.[22] He had his first 100-yard receiving game against the Ottawa Redblacks on September 7, where he had seven catches for 105 yards.[21] He finished the season with five 100-yard games in the last seven regular season games to finish as the team's leading receiver.[22] In 2024, Polk played in 17 regular season games where he had 61 receptions for 1,024 yards and five touchdowns.[21] For his strong season, he was named to the East Division All-CFL team.[24] He also played in all three post-season games registering 14 receptions for 272 yards & a touchdown,[25] including the 111th Grey Cup where he had four receptions for 42 yards in the Argonauts' 41–24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[26]
Atlanta Falcons
[edit]On January 7, 2025, Polk signed a reserve/futures contract with the Atlanta Falcons.[27] Polk was released by the Falcons during training camp on July 31.[28]
Toronto Argonauts (second stint)
[edit]On August 26, 2025, it was announced that Polk had signed again with the Toronto Argonauts.[29]
References
[edit]- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Faulk, Robbie (September 2, 2021). "Transfer receivers making themselves at home in Air Raid at Mississippi State". 247Sports.com. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ↑ "Makai Polk 2020 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
- ↑ Travers, Trace (January 8, 2021). "WR Makai Polk Enters Transfer Portal". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ↑ Becker, Jon (January 11, 2021). "Cal adds Florida State safety, loses receiver to Mississippi State". The Mercury News. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Maiocco, Matt (April 13, 2022). "Mississippi State receiver Polk headlines 49ers' local pro day". NBC Sports Bay Area. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- ↑ Kostka, Andy (January 2, 2022). "Makai Polk, record-breaking Mississippi State wideout, declares for NFL draft". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- ↑ "Makai Polk Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
- ↑ "2022 Draft Scout Makai Polk, Mississippi State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
- ↑ "NFL combine 2022: Christian Watson imposing, Jameson Williams lighter amid ACL rehab as WRs, TEs get measured". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
- ↑ Froyd, Crissy (May 2, 2022). "Where Each Former Bulldog Landed in the 2022 NFL Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ↑ Mink, Ryan (August 30, 2022). "Ravens Make Roster Cuts to 53". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ↑ Mink, Ryan (August 31, 2022). "Ravens Set Initial Practice Squad". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ↑ Mink, Ryan (September 27, 2022). "Ravens Add Veteran Outside Linebacker and Guard to Practice Squad". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ↑ Eisen, Michael (September 28, 2022). "Giants sign CB Fabian Moreau off practice squad; Sterling Shepard to IR". Giants.com. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- ↑ "Giants sign 12 to reserve/future contracts". Giants.com. January 22, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ↑ Citak, Matt (July 24, 2023). "Giants sign defensive tackle Brandin Bryant; 2 waived". Giants.com.
- ↑ Mink, Ryan (July 25, 2023). "Ravens Bring Back Wide Receiver Makai Polk". BaltimoreRavens.com.
- ↑ "Argos Sign American WR Makai Polk". Toronto Argonauts. May 20, 2024.
- 1 2 3 "Makai Polk". Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- 1 2 3 "Game Notes" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ↑ "Toronto Argonauts vs Montreal Alouettes". Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ↑ "Harris and Mitchell headline 2024 Divisional All-CFL squads". Canadian Football League. October 30, 2024.
- ↑ "Falcons sign former Argonauts WR Makai Polk to reserve/future contract". Sportsnet. January 8, 2025.
- ↑ "Play-by-Play, 111th Grey Cup". Canadian Football League. November 17, 2024.
- ↑ Waack, Terrin (January 17, 2025). "Falcons sign 17 players to reserve/future contracts for 2025". Atlanta Falcons. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
- ↑ "Falcons sign S Henry Black, waive WR Makai Polk". nbcsports.com. July 31, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ↑ "Argos Bring Back East All-CFL WR Makai Polk". Toronto Argonauts. August 26, 2025.
External links
[edit]- 2001 births
- Living people
- Players of American football from Richmond, California
- El Cerrito High School alumni
- American football wide receivers
- California Golden Bears football players
- Mississippi State Bulldogs football players
- Baltimore Ravens players
- New York Giants players
- Susan Miller Dorsey High School alumni
- Toronto Argonauts players
- Canadian football wide receivers
- Players of Canadian football from California
- Atlanta Falcons players
- 21st-century American sportsmen