PISCATAWAY -- When it came down to choosing where to play college football, Jamil Pollard had his choices narrowed down to two schools: Rutgers and Penn State.
Even with the Jerry Sandusky scandal tarnishing the football program and the school, Pollard didn't waiver.
"Penn State had my heart at the time," Pollard said at Rutgers' media day. "I'll never forget going to one of their games and hearing 'We Are ... Penn State.' That will always be in the back of my mind. That was a great environment."
But Pollard also wanted to play in bowl games. So when the NCAA slapped sanctions on Penn State, Pollard knew he wanted out. He also knew exactly where to turn.
"For personal reasons I decided to come back home. After talking to my brother and my mom and my dad, I talked to everyone and just different things went into the decision [and] ultimately I ended up coming here," Pollard said.
"My brother's going to be able to end up coming to one of my games in a year. It couldn't happen at Penn State. That weighed into the decision because I would love for my brother to come to one of the games."
Not something you'd expect to hear from the West Deptford, NJ native.
On what seemed to be a normal day, November 8, 2007, Pollard -- who'd been his sisters' primary babysitter -- declined to take them to the park. Instead, he went to play basketball with his friends.
So he left his little sisters A'ailiah Scott, 10, and India Duncan, 6, with his older brother Marquis Lee.
But things weren't right with Lee. For the past year, he'd been hearing voices in his head. Regular fights with his mom got him kicked out of the house, but he'd still come by to shower and occasionally sleep.
With Lee home that autumn afternoon, Pollard left to go shoot hoops with his friends. He had no idea his life would be forever changed when he'd arrive home.
Brought home by his aunt, the autumn night sky was lit up by the red and blue lights of cop cars and ambulances that had lined the streets.
Inside his house, his two sisters were killed at the hand of his brother.
Two years later, Lee was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and it was ruled in court that he didn't know what he was doing when he murdered his sisters.
By then, enough time had passed where Jamil had forgiven Marquis.
"Because he's my brother," Jamil said when asked how he was able to forgive him. "You do lose family, but you want to keep close to the ones that are still around and you have to forgive. You can't live a life with a grudge between you and your brother. You have to forgive him eventually."
With Lee at Ancora State Hospital, Pollard remains close with his older brother.
"We're like best friends again. We play around all the time," Pollard said. "I visit him in the hospital. When I was home I would visit him every Sunday. "
Pollard will bring Lee his favorite food -- Reese's -- and recently brought him up a GameCube. They're in constant contact by phone.
While Lee has yet to be allowed out of the hospital, that day may be coming soon. If he keeps up with his good behavior, in a year he'll be allowed out on the weekends. So on fall Saturdays, Lee will be making the trip up north to Piscataway to see his younger brother play college football.
While Pollard doesn't know what it's going to feel like for him when Lee is in the stands, it's a moment he's anticipating.
"I can't wait honestly," Pollard said. "I can't wait."