Former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker David Pollack will replace Craig James during ESPN's Thursday Night College Football, ESPN is expected to announce on Wednesday. Pollack, a three-time First-team All-American, was Cincinnati's first-round pick during the 2005 NFL draft as a defensive end out of Georgia. Pollack was also the Chuck Bednarik Award winner, the Lott Trophy winner and Lombardi Award winner during his senior season.

Cincinnati moved Pollack to outside linebacker, where he generated 4.5 quarterback sacks during his rookie campaign. Pollack's career would come to an unfortunate, immediate and premature end after a collision against Cleveland running back Reuben Droughns during the second week of the 2006 season.

After his NFL career ended, Pollack found a home as a college football analyst for CBS and ESPNU. Most recently he was part of ESPN's College Gameday.

James, the man Pollack is replacing, resigned from ESPN to run for the United States Senate where he received just 4 percent of the vote for the Republican Primary.