Arkansas will likely have multiple true and redshirt freshmen contribute at a number of positions in 2018, and one of them will most certainly be linebacker Bumper Pool.

Rated a four-star recruit, the No. 12 inside linebacker, the No. 236 overall player in the entire country and a member of any made-up internet 'All-Name Team' out of Lovejoy High School in Lucas (Tex.), racked up more than 300 tackles in four years, including 166 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles and three interceptions as a senior.



Pool signed with the University of Arkansas over major offers from Alabama LSU, Texas A&M, USC, Michigan and others, arriving on campus early this past spring. Unfortunately, Pool contracted mononucleosis during spring practice and was held out for a large portion of the workouts. Defensive coordinator John Chavis didn’t get to see much from Pool earlier this offseason, but he believes the true freshman backer is coming into his own as of late.



“He’s doing well. When I say doing well, I mean he’s playing the position well. He’s smart, he learns and he’s got some instincts. He’s just coming along. … I didn’t have enough opportunities in the spring to see that, but I’m seeing it now. And I’m pretty excited about it,” Chavis said.



Last Saturday, the Razorbacks held their first fall scrimmage. Though it was closed to the public and the media, word from the coaching staff was that Pool indeed stood out once again. Pool began his Arkansas career as a middle linebacker, but the 6-2, 223-pound defender shifted outside to Will linebacker recently, a move that has brought on his resurgence to the second team on the depth chart.



“We moved Bumper to Will, with some young guys back there with him. I think it’s him and Dee Walker right now with the 2s. Bumper is coming along. He came in early, so he kind of got a jump on the playbook. Spring helped him out a little. Not as much, but it kind of helped him just get a feel for this level from high school,” fellow linebacker De'Jon Harris said. “I think he did some good things in the scrimmage. He had a couple of busts. It was minor busts, nothing major, so I think this weekend in the scrimmage, he should be twice as better than he was last week.”



Following the scrimmage, Pool’s name continued to come out of head coach Chad Morris’ mouth in a positive light. The head Hog has praised a few freshmen defensive players, including Joe Foucha, Myles Mason and the aforementioned Pool. Morris sees Pool as a guy that will make an impact early and often despite his lack of collegiate experience.



“Bumper Pool is another one that is really showing some good things. Bumper is in a position right now that we feel like he’s going to be able to contribute. We’re going to challenge him some more to see how this thing goes. He’s really progressed over the last few days of practice, actually the last four or five days of practice and really had a good scrimmage the other day,” Morris said.



Lately, Pool has been running second-team Will alongside linebacker Grant Morgan. While it’s highly unlikely he would dethrone Dre Greenlaw or even Hayden Henry, Pool has positioned himself to play and play often in his first year as a Razorback, something many freshmen can’t say.



Chavis plans on allowing the players to settle things on the field when it comes to the depth chart and playing time.



“They continue to fight (for snaps). I don’t determine who those guys are going to be. They determine it by how well they play and perform when they get opportunities,” Chavis said. “I feel real good about Bumper Pool. He’s having a heck of a fall camp.”

