Arkansas is expected to start true freshman linebacker Bumper Pool in place of the injured Dre Greenlaw (high ankle sprain) on Saturday when the team heads to Fort Collins to take on the Colorado State Rams.

Pool, 6-2, 223, came in for Greenlaw at Will linebacker late in the first quarter after Greenlaw came up limping shortly following an announcement that he already had registered 10 tackles. It was a scary moment as Greenlaw was helped off the field as he has broken his foot twice. Greenlaw was not at practice Tuesday, and if it is a high ankle sprain as reported, there is a strong chance Greenlaw sits this week at CSU.

"I was excited, not to see Dre down but to get in there and get the opportunity to show what we've been working for. It was exciting," Pool said following Tuesday's practice. "Whatever happens happens. I'm just excited to be out there and get a couple of reps. If I get out there Dre is always coaching me up when I'm with the twos making sure I know what to do. He's always been a great mentor to me. I'll just be excited to get in."

"I think Bumper came in and did a good job," Arkansas defensive coordinator and linebackers coach John Chavis said on Monday. "It was a growing experience for him. I think he had about 39 plays which was a good number. I didn't know he would play that many when the game started, but hey when your number is called you've got to be ready."

Pool finished the game with 6 tackles, a pass-breakup (that was nearly intercepted by Santos Ramirez as it fluttered in the air), a blocked extra point and a 60-yard fumble return down to the Eastern Illinois 5-yard line with 11:31 remaining in the third quarter. Sophomore nickel D'Vone McClure initially forced the fumble. Quarterback Ty Storey scored from two yards out two plays later to move the Hogs ahead 45-6. Cornerback Ryan Pulley was running alongside Pool trying to move him along.

"They were already giving me grief for not scoring. I said, 'Hey, I could have used a couple of blocks,'" Pool said. "When I was running with him I honestly thought it was somebody trying to tackle me. I was trying to be high and tight and keep going and I saw it was Pulley and then I didn't realize I was on the 5-yard line when I got tackled. I thought I was on the 20."

"I was trying to push him to score, man. I wish he would have scored. But that was a good job on his part," Pulley said. "He thought I was trying to strip the ball from him actually. But I was pushing him to score, trying to get him a touchdown. But that was a good play by him and Pluck (McClure)."

As a recruit out of Lovejoy (Texas), 247Sports rated Pool the No. 243 overall prospect in the country, the No. 13 inside linebacker and the No. 29 recruit in Texas. He chose the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Texas A&M, TCU, USC and several others. He committed to Arkansas' previous staff and was obviously retained when Chad Morris took over, but Arkansas had a special place in his heart. And as a child he looked up to former Razorback quarterbacks Casey and Nathan Dick, who were family friends through Pool's father and their father Steve. Not only did both of his parents attend the University of Arkansas, his sister Maddie Pool is a student and is a member of the recruiting staff.