Sam Pittman provides update on Bumper Pool’s surgery, future plans

Arkansas linebacker Bumper Pool underwent successful hip surgery Wednesday, and is scheduled to have another for the other hip in the near future as well. That will effectively cut short one of the best defensive careers in Razorbacks history,

After the 29-27 loss to Missouri Friday, head coach Sam Pittman updated the condition of Pool following his operation and discussed what Pool’s future plans could be if the NFL route doesn’t work out for him in the long run.

“Well, he had surgery on Wednesday. I think it went well. I know it did. He told me it went well. He was still a little loopy,” Pittman said of Pool postgame. “Bless his heart, he went about as far as he could go for the Hogs and for the state. … I think if he comes back healthy and feels good, I think he’ll give [the NFL Draft] a shot. I think if there’s anything coming from his surgery that he doesn’t feel good about, I think he wants to be a coach.”

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Pool ends his collegiate career with five of the most productive seasons in SEC history. This season alone, the senior racked up 92 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, 2.0 sacks and three pass breakups during the 2022 campaign.

His career stats are even more impressive. Pool has amassed a school record 441 tackles, including 27.5 for a loss, as well as 3.0 sacks and 19 pass breakups. He’ll go out as one of the most productive defensive players in Arkansas history. He’ll go down as the the most prolific tackler in Arkansas Razorbacks history.

Pool’s status for the NFL Draft is up in the air as of this report, but is expected to be a late round draft choice or end up undrafted if he were to declare.