A year ago, David Pollack began the season as an unknown sophomore defensive end. He introduced himself to offensive linemen rather quickly.

"I went against one kid last year, and I won't say who," Pollack said the other day. "He said, 'Hey, 47, I don't remember you from last year.'"

I said, "I was on the bench last year."

	After 14 sacks in 2002, David Pollack won't sneak up on anyone in 2003.

"He said, 'You're going to be my bitch all game long.'"

Pollack is a religious guy, and his vocabulary is not normally this colorful. But a grin spread across his face.

"I had a great game," he said. "After I got by him a couple of times, I said, 'If this is being your bitch, I'm loving it!'"

As every Georgia Dawg fan knows, Pollack's renown spread far beyond trash-talking offensive linemen. He finished the season as the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, not on defense, but on the entire field, which is what happens when you get 14 sacks and single-handedly win the South Carolina game. Pollack's strip of quarterback Corey Jenkins and ability to turn and catch the ball while falling in the end zone provided the winning margin in a 13-7 victory and made every short list of defensive plays of the year.

This year, Pollack sneaks up on no one. There are some perks to that.

"We've already got NCAA Football 2004," Pollack said referring to the EA Sports video game he and roommate, quarterback David Greene, play. "The body types are all the same, but you've got to check yourself out. I looked at my rating last year, and it was god-awful. This year, I'm a little bit better. That's encouraging."

Little bit better? When it comes to blowing his own horn, let's just say that Pollack could never drive a car in Manhattan. Take the Playboy preseason All-America team. Pollack turned down the honor, because his moral compass pointed him elsewhere. There are two David Pollacks: the one who uses his quick first step to bedevil quarterbacks, and the one whose life revolves around his religion.

"When I'm on the field, I'm trying to beat my guy and be dominating," he said. "People have got to realize, you can be both. You can love God, and worship God. When the words are flying, you're not dishonoring God. You're doing your job. You can get mad without having to curse and fight. To be honest, I don't really get mad. You're focused on your goal. You're trying to beat your guy and fly to the ball."

Among the great topics of preseason debate in the SEC -- Can Alabama coach Mike Shula install an offense in three weeks? Can Tennessee survive without a backup quarterback? Will Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill outrun the NCAA sheriffs? -- is whether Pollack can be the same offense wrecker without defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, who regularly occupied two blockers on his way to becoming the sixth pick in the 2003 NFL Draft.

"Last year, he had Sullivan drawing double teams and he had a little bit of an element of surprise," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "I don't think anybody had a David Pollack plan. I think people will game-plan him a little bit this year. It will be interesting to see if his stats are the same. I know his effort will be the same."

Pollack expects to be double-teamed, and expects that, in a reverse of last season, that will open up opportunities for his tackles.

"We've got so many playmakers, so many athletes," Pollack said. "That's part of football. As long as I'm winning, I don't care about how many people are blocking me." At 6-foot-3, 278 pounds, Pollack is no behemoth. His advantage comes from his quickness and a motor that never downshifts.

"I wouldn't have predicted that David Pollack would be Player of the Year," Richt said, "but I knew whoever played against him would have a long day. David plays hard every single play. He can do it 80 percent of the game. You never count out Pollack and his ability to lead and play like he can play."

Pollack hopes to spread his work ethic and enthusiasm throughout the defense, and with his résumé, he will get the attention of the younger players.

"Last year, I tried to lead by example," he said. "I feel more of an obligation this year to be vocal. You've proven yourself a little more. Last year, if I had said to someone, 'You need to do this,' they would have said, 'What's this kid doing?' Now, with some people, you can say, 'That was dumb. What are you doing?' It's all about knowing how to push people's buttons."

If any other young player went in the course of one season from the sideline to the All-American team, and became an integral part of school's first conference champion in 20 years, self-satisfaction might be a threat. With Pollack, the question is moot.

"I don't see what was so special," he said. "We didn't win a national championship. People ask if we got complacent. We have no reason to. We weren't perfect. We're striving for perfection."

If this is striving for perfection, Pollack is loving it.

Ivan Maisel is a senior writer at ESPN.com. He can be reached at ivan.maisel@espn3.com.