Arkansas star linebacker Bumper Pool announces 2022 intentions

Arkansas Razorbacks star linebacker Bumper Pool has announced his 2022 intentions. Instead of declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft, Pool will instead be returning to Arkansas for another season.

Pool announced his decision on Friday afternoon via his Twitter account.

“I want to first start out by saying I am extremely blessed by God’s grace to be in the position I am today,” Pool began. “These past four years have been some of the greatest years of my life and they wouldn’t have been possible without the love and support of my family, friends, coaches, teammates, and most importantly the Arkansas fanbase.”

“I feel a certain responsibility to the state of Arkansas, the university and my teammates to continue the tradition, standard, and legacy that has been set by our football program.”

“With that being said, I am forgoing the 2022 NFL Draft and coming back for my 5th year. Woo Pig!”

Let’s run it back, Arkansas! pic.twitter.com/ZVOM6vK9GM

— Bumper Pool (@bumperpool10) January 7, 2022

Pool has been extremely productive in his Arkansas career

Over the last three seasons, Pool has totaled more than 300 tackles. This season, Pool had 125 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and two passes defended. In his four-year career with Arkansas, Pool has totaled 349 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, one sack, and 16 passes defended. His efforts were enough to earn him a spot on the All-SEC second team this season.

Pool has at least 100 tackles in two consecutive seasons, and he was just shy in 2019 with 94 stops. He has played in 44 career games as a Razorback.

Pool was a four-star recruit as part of the 2018 recruiting cycle according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He held offers from USC, Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, Michigan and many others before ultimately choosing the Razorbacks. Pool officially enrolled at Arkansas in January of 2018.

Arkansas ranked middle of the pack among SEC teams in most defensive categories. The Razorbacks won nine games, finishing 9-4 and third in the SEC West, trailing just Alabama and Ole Miss. Arkansas beat Penn State 24-10 in the Outback Bowl to wrap up the season.