Pool attacking new season with added size, strength

Arkansas defender Bumper Pool against Tennessee during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020 in Fayetteville. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

FAYETTEVILLE — Day 1 of preseason practice went swimmingly for Arkansas linebacker Bumper Pool.

The senior contributed to what he said was a productive day for the Razorbacks’ defense. In all, the group came away with six interceptions, he said, two of which belonged to him.

“I was excited about it,” Pool said. “Just something I wanted to work on was my pass coverage. I think that comes with working on your technique and knowing the coverages better."

Pool credited linebackers coach Michael Scherer and defensive coordinator Barry Odom for his improvement in that area.

Pool was also adamant about working on his body following last season. You wouldn’t know it given he finished with 101 tackles, but he played with broken ribs for a majority of Arkansas’ 10-game schedule.

Pool did not feel 100% after Week 2 — when he broke up 2 passes and recorded 20 tackles at Mississippi State, helping the Razorbacks snap their 20-game SEC losing streak — and his strength never fully returned. Still, he finished with 14 tackles in back-to-back games against Texas A&M and Tennessee. He had 11 or more tackles in two of the final three games of the season.

By season’s end he was one of three Arkansas defenders named to All-SEC teams by the league’s coaches.

This summer, he set out to be even better and more reliable at the second level alongside Grant Morgan. His goal was to ensure that strength won’t be an issue in 2021.

“I want to have that size and strength,” he said. “[Strength coach Jamil Walker] and I kind of sat down and talked about that. I wanted to work on that, and that comes with working on speed and the squat bar.”

Pool said he now weighs a comfortable 232 pounds and hopes to remain there during training camp.

Asked how he is approaching this season with the understanding that he could potentially return in 2022, Pool said all of his focus is on this year.

"You go through this thing where covid popped up, I didn't even think there was going to be that possibility,” he said, referencing the extra year afforded to athletes due to last year's covid-19 outbreak. “With the game of football, your career can be over so quick, so you kind of have to have that mentality regardless because in one play you [could be] done.

“I’m going to attack this season like it's my last, but then again that's how you should attack every season."