Bumper Pool (American football)

Last updated

Bumper Pool
Bumper Pool (53752267584) (cropped).jpg
Pool with the Michigan Panthers in 2024
Personal information
Born: (1999-09-28) September 28, 1999 (age 25)
Lucas, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:232 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school: Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas)
College: Arkansas (2018–2022)
Position: Linebacker
Undrafted: 2023
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Bumper James Morris Pool (born James Morris Pool; September 28, 1999) is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Arkansas and he is the school's leader in all-time tackles with 441.

Contents

High school career

Pool attended Lovejoy High School in Lucas, Texas. After a performance that included 19 tackles and three tackles for loss, Pool was named the Defensive player of the week by The Dallas Morning News . [1] A four-star recruit, Pool had offers from Arkansas, Michigan, and Alabama. [2] Pool committed to play college football at the University of Arkansas. [3]

College career

In Pool's first career game, as a freshman in 2018, he contributed with six tackles and a fumble return. [4] In his freshman season, Pool played in ten games totaling 29 tackles. [5] As a sophomore in 2019, Pool amassed 94 tackles including 6.5 tackles for loss. [6] The following season, Pool was named to the Second team All-SEC. [7] In a shortened ten-game season, Pool recorded 101 total tackles. [8] He averaged 11.2 tackles per game finishing second in the SEC. In 2021, Pool once again was named to the Second team All-SEC, tallying 125 tackles. [9] Pool decided to return for a fifth year at Arkansas, using the year of eligibility granted from the COVID-19 shortened season. [10] Entering the season, Pool was named to the Butkus Award watch list. [11] Pool was also named to the Phil Steele preseason First team All-SEC and Second team All-American teams. [12] [13] Pool was named the 39th best player in the upcoming college football season by ESPN. [14] In his final season, Pool totaled 92 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks, while being named to the Second team All-SEC for the third consecutive season. [15] With 441 career tackles, Pool became the school's all-time leading tackler, surpassing Tony Bua's previous record of 408. [16]

Professional career

Carolina Panthers

Pool was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. [17] He was waived by the Panthers on August 26. [18]

Michigan Panthers

On May 22, 2024, Pool signed with the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). [19]

Personal life

When Pool was 16, he legally changed his name to Bumper James Morris Pool. [20] [21] [22] The name Bumper originated from his father's love for bumper pool as a child. [23]

Pool appeared in a question of a 2018 episode of Jeopardy! . [24]

References

  1. ↑ Walker, Rhiannon (October 12, 2015). "Defensive player of the week (10/12): Lovejoy's Bumper Pool". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Arkansas commit Bumper Pool is the clubhouse leader for best name in the football class of 2018". USA TODAY High School Sports. March 7, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Rivals.com – 2018 4-Star Bumper Pool makes commitment to Arkansas". n.rivals.com. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Arkansas football: Yes, the name is awesome. But LB Bumper Pool can play, too". Saturday Down South. September 5, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  5. ↑ "How Arkansas' true freshmen fared in 2018". HawgSports.com. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Bumper Pool Feels Arkansas Taking Advantage of Virtual Meetings, Time Learning Defense". KARK. April 27, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  7. ↑ "2020 SEC Football Awards, All-SEC Team Announced". www.secsports.com. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  8. ↑ Kelly, Nick. "Why Arkansas' Bumper Pool is Alabama football's most interesting opponent for Week 11". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Bumper Pool listed on Butkus Award Watchlist". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Bumper Pool to return to Arkansas for 2022 season". 5newsonline.com. January 7, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Pool Named to Butkus Award Watch List". 5newsonline.com. July 25, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Four Hogs Tabbed to Preseason All-SEC Team; Razorbacks Picked to Finish Third in West". Arkansas Razorbacks. July 22, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Phil Steele releases 2022 preseason All-American defensive teams". On3. June 16, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  14. ↑ "College football's top 100 players for 2022: Will Anderson Jr., Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and more". ESPN.com. August 17, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Six Hogs Named to Coaches All-SEC Team". Arkansas Razorbacks. December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Bumper Pool sets all-time Arkansas tackles record". thv11.com. October 8, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  17. ↑ Gantt, Darin (April 29, 2023). "Panthers agree to terms with undrafted rookies". Panthers.com.
  18. ↑ Gantt, Darin (August 26, 2023). "Panthers waive 11 players Saturday". Panthers.com.
  19. ↑ Editor, UFLBoard (May 23, 2024). "UFL Player Transactions, May 22, 2024". UFLBoard.com. Retrieved May 23, 2024.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  20. ↑ Sayles, Damon. "The Best Name in College Football Recruiting: Meet 2018 LB Bumper Pool". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  21. ↑ Holt, Bob (July 15, 2018). "The Story behind Bumper". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette .
  22. ↑ Kaye, Mike (May 15, 2023). "How a Panthers rookie got his unusual name and became Arkansas Razorbacks' top tackler". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  23. ↑ Bicks, Emily (September 28, 2019). "Is Bumper Pool the Arkansas Razorbacks LB Real Name?". Heavy.com. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  24. ↑ Rill, Jake (November 6, 2018). "WATCH: Arkansas freshman LB Bumper Pool appears in answer on 'Jeopardy'". Saturday Down South. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
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