@fullname - Featured Writers - University of North Carolina Athletics

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Nick Polino

Position:
Offensive Line
Height:
6-3
Weight:
305
Class:
Graduate Student
Hometown:
Buford, Ga.
High School:
Buford

2019 - Senior Season

Appeared in seven games and made three starts at center and right guard • Blocked for an offense that averaged 474.0 yards per game (12th NCAA/2nd ACC), including 285.8 passing yards per game (3rd ACC) and 188.2 rushing yards per game (4th ACC) • Suffered a leg injury during the Miami game after opening the season with four knockdowns against South Carolina • Returned to action for 14 snaps in the Virginia game • Recorded a grade of 83 in the senior day game against Mercer • Matched his season-high four knockdowns at NC State.

2018 - Junior Season

Started all 11 games at left guard • An All-ACC Academic Team member • Blocked for an offense that averaged 442.1 yards per game (31st NCAA), including 193.0 rushing yards per contest • Led an offensive line that allowed just 0.91 sacks per game (10 sacks/7th NCAA/2nd ACC) • Earned the team’s Lineman of the Week honor four times • Graded out at 81 or better in eight of the nine graded games • Posted 56 knockdowns over the first nine games • Recorded an 81 with three knockdowns at Cal • Registered an 82 with eight knockdowns at ECU • Tallied a 76 and four knockdowns versus Pitt • Notched an 83 with seven knockdowns at Miami • Added an 86 and eight knockdowns versus Virginia Tech • Claimed an 82 and a season-best 11 knockdowns at Syracuse • Posted and 85 with six knockdowns at Virginia • Tallied and 86 with two knockdowns against Georgia Tech • Posted a season-best 89 with seven knockdowns at Duke.

2017 - Sophomore Season

Appeared in all 12 games and made a pair of starts at guard • His 86 percent grade at NC State was second-best on the team • Had perhaps the best performance of his career in the win at Pitt, grading out at a team-best 92 percent with four knockdown blocks • Also had four knockdowns against Miami and Virginia Tech • Led the team with an 86 percent grade against Duke.

2016 - Redshirt Freshman Season

Reserve guard appeared in eight games, including starting against Virginia Tech • Graded out at 88 percent with a pair of knockdown blocks in the win over Georgia Tech • Had three knockdowns against the Hokies and two in the win at Illinois.

Buford High School

Led Buford to a 15-0 record and the Class AAAA championship • It was Buford’s third-straight state title • Considered the No. 20 offensive guard in the country by Scout.com • Listed in the top 50 guards in the nation by Rivals.com • ESPN.com’s No. 48 guard • Named first-team all-state by the Georgia Sportswriters Association in 2013 and 2014 • Three-time first-team all-region and all-county selection • Ranked the No. 20 guard in the South and No. 58 nationally by Scout.com • Top 10 performer in the Georgia Rising Seniors game and was named the offensive line MVP • Won team’s most improved award every year • Voted the Dexter Wood leadership award winner • Never gave up a sack in his career • High school head coach was Jess Simpson.

Personal

Son of Tammy and Greg Polino • Birthday is Sept. 6.