Polk is voice of UA defense

Ian Mayer Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior linebacker DaShon Polk (31) follows up on a tackle during the Iowa game at Arizona Stadium. Polk has 31 tackles and two sacks going into Saturday's game against Oregon. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m. at Arizona Stadium and the game will also be televised nationally on Fox Sports.

This is nothing new to junior "whip" linebacker DaShon Polk, who has the responsibility of leading the defense on every down.

"The tradition is taught to us from day one," Polk said. "To play on this defense you have to be able to hit, run and be a competitor at full speed. It makes you want to play harder knowing about the tradition."

It is Polk's job to be a vocal player on defense by shouting out calls and different schemes that they have to run on a particular play.

"The position I play takes the leadership role because I do so much by setting and calling the front," he said. "If I am not (vocal), we don't know what play to run. Every play I have something to say."

Polk redshirted in 1996 after playing a full season as a true freshman on special teams in 1995. In 1997 he contributed to the defense with 46 tackles, 36 of which were solos, three sacks and nine tackles for loss.

His 1997 highlights included an unassisted 12 tackle game at Washington State and two sacks against Stanford.

This year, as the leader of an inexperienced Wildcat front, Polk has 31 tackles, six for a loss, two sacks and one pass broken up. This line-up includes freshmen Eli Wnek and Keoni Fraser and sophomore Anthony Thomas

"He is a great leader for us because he has been here and been successful for a while," Wnek said. "He is the one who runs the defense, gives the signals and helps us in the trenches."

As for this weekend, Polk looks at the challenge of the Oregon Ducks' high-powered offense featuring Heisman contender Akili Smith as a challenge he can't wait to tackle.

"Who wouldn't? Any competitor would love this challenge," he said. "We have to make a fist, go out and throw punches."

Polk may be overlooked by other teams who focus on the presence of junior inside linebacker Marcus Bell, who has 86 tackles and three sacks this season.

"I'm glad they look at Bell. He is probably the nucleus of this defense," Polk said.

No matter if Bell is the nucleus of the defense or not, the words, "he is a great, great ballplayer," that senior defensive tackle Daniel Greer said about Polk, describe exactly what his teammates think of him.

For Polk, choosing Arizona over some of the teams in his home state of California was one of the best decisions he made.

"I am having so much fun," he said. "Just by talking across the ball to the offense and in the locker room, you can tell this team is so together."

Dan Rosen can be reached via e-mail at Dan.Rosen@wildcat.arizona.edu.