Sam Pittman discusses potential for Bumper Pool to break Arkansas tackle record

Arkansas linebacker Bumper Pool has had an exceptional start to his senior season with the Razorbacks. Notching 29 tackles through three games, if Pool can continue his stellar average, he could end the 2022 season with one of the best statistical seasons in Razorbacks history.

“I know it would mean everything to him if he could break that record,” Pittman said Wednesday. “I think that was to be, perfectly honest with you, I think that was a big part of how we could get him to come back.

“I told him when I was talking to him today, I told him there’s only one guy in the world can say that they have the most tackles ever in the history of Arkansas football, and there’s not many of those things in life. And how long – if he could get it – how long would he keep it? I don’t know, but he’s such a good person, and good kid and I hope that he can get that record.”

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

Pool is well on pace to surpass all-time tackles leader Tony Bua (2000-2003), who notched an astounding 408 in four seasons in Fayetteville. Pool, who used his COVID-19 blanket waiver to play a fifth season, has totaled 378 tackles through three games into his final season with Arkansas.

If his average continues, he’ll be looking to surpass Bua’s record around the time Arkansas travels to No. 19 BYU on Oct. 15.

In terms of the single season tackle record, that will be a bit harder to achieve, as it has has stood in Razorbacks record books since 1960, when Wayne Harris compiled 174 tackles (62 unassisted, 112 assisted). Even if Pool continues his 9.6 tackle-per-game average, he’ll only sit around 120 tackles at the end of the regular season.

If the No. 10 Razorbacks earn a bowl berth like expected and Pool is sitting around 120 tackles on the year, he could finish in Arkansas’ top-15 all time. The No. 15 slot, which belongs to Tony Bua in 2003, is slotted at 126 tackles, and the numbers are so close that every slot up to No. 8 is between 126 and 136 total tackles.

With all of that surely in the back of his mind, Pool’s focus has to be on task in front of him, and this week’s task comes in the form of the No. 23 Texas A&M Aggies in College Station.