Razorback senior linebacker Bumper Pool (#10) from Lucas, TX makes a tackle for a loss against Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.
By Otis Kirk
FAYETTEVILLE -- Linebacker Bumper Pool will be playing his last game in Razorback Stadium on Saturday and would love nothing more than a win over Ole Miss.
Pool leads the team in tackles with 90 this season. He is the all-time tackles leader at Arkansas passing Tony Bua earlier this fall. Pool has 36 solo tackles, 5.5 for loss, two sacks, three pass breakups and five quarterback hurries. It will be senior night on Saturday and that's something Pool talked about has changed since he came in.
"Not everyone that I came in with is still here," Pool said. "Most of the guys I’m walking with are not that same group. We have some sixth-year guys that stayed, transfers coming in. I think that just kind of tells you where this program is at. We’ve changed a lot since I got here, and I think we’ve changed for the better. It’s been an up-and-down roller coaster, but the one goal that I had coming back was to continue to breath that culture that we set the past couple seasons.
"Whenever you have good seasons, the expectations are going to be higher. So getting to try to instill fight in a lot of these young guys and hopefully they can learn and continue to take those lessons that we’ve learned this year throughout the future so the program can continue to grow."
Pool said, while senior night is a big deal, the only thing on his mind is snapping a three-game losing streak at home and getting a win over No. 14 Ole Miss.
"That’s our only goal, is to win," Pool said. "And to win on senior night, to get bowl eligible, to play at night in Razorback Stadium. I haven’t played a night [SEC] game at Razorback Stadium since Tennessee [in 2020], and we got a win that night. Winning under the lights against an SEC team is a great time. Hopefully we continue to have good practices and we go out there and leave everything we have, because it is our last opportunity to play in this stadium."
Pool and the Arkansas defense has only allowed 13 points in the past six quarters. They played their best game against LSU holding the nation's No. 7 team to 284 yards of total offense.
"Yeah, I think that we just continue to grow as a defense," Pool said. "We got hit with some injuries early on in the year and then we kind of changed some things up with running our defense. Kind of getting our D-line to slant some more. But then we had some additions, like Quincey (McAdoo) coming in, adding some help at the corner position, moving Hud (Clark) to the middle safety.
"I think everyone just kind of found their groove. I think whenever you have corners that can really lock down, it helps you be more aggressive and whenever we can pressure the quarterback, I think that’s whenever we’re best. So, like you said, one touchdown the past six quarters is something we’re proud of, but we have a lot more to prove and I think we have two really good opponents left to prove it."
Pool went on to talk more about what has led to more success on defense in recent weeks.
"I think whenever you have everybody running to the ball, that’s kind of staple that we’ve had whenever we’re playing our best ball," Pool said. "But then again, our defense is completely different in a way — we’re getting to the quarterback, we’re getting a lot of sacks, a lot of pressure. And we have guys covering really good receivers in the SEC, so if we can just continue to take some of that identity of the past and build it off what we’ve built this year, that just kind of leads you to more success in the future. Getting new guys in that can continue to get after the passer and cover receivers 1-on-1."
Pool and the Hogs have had some wild games against Ole Miss. In 2020, Clark intercepted three passes in the game. In 2021, Ole Miss survived a 52-51 game in Oxford when Arkansas failed on a two-point conversion that would have won the game.
"Yeah, they have such an explosive offense," Pool said. "Growing up, watching all the games, there’s just been crazy swings in the games, big plays being made, and you know, it does always happen, but if we can go out there and try to eliminate some of that drama, we’ll be more excited with that."
Since the BYU game, defensive coordinator Barry Odom has been on the sideline instead of the press box. Pool likes having Odom on the sideline.
"He brings great energy," Pool said. "He does a great job about making adjustments, coming up to us, looking us in the eyes and giving us exactly what we need to do. I think our defense has responded to it, especially our defensive backs. His energy down there is infectious."
Saturday night's game will kickoff at 6:30 p.m. and televised on the SEC Network. Some of the weather forecasts indicate it could be the coldest game ever played in Razorback Stadium. Pool is fine with that.
"It’s cold, but it’s cold for the other team," Pool said. "Whenever you can have a game when the weather is down in the 20s, it comes to a game of wills. On a senior night in our stadium, I think that we’re going to have a lot of fight and a lot of will."
Arkansas (5-5, 2-4) needs one more win to become bowl eligible. They wrap up the regular season on Friday, Nov. 25, at Missouri with a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on CBS.