Tag: Bumper Pool

Broncos host 3 free agents, including an ex-Saints wide receiver

The Broncos hosted LBs Bumper Pool and Tanner Vallejo and ex-Saints WR Tre’Quan Smith this week.

The Denver Broncos seem to be seeking more depth at linebacker and wide receiver.

The Broncos brought in two free agent linebackers — Bumper Pool and Tanner Vallejo — for workouts on Wednesday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.

Denver is also bringing in wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith for a visit, according to multiple reports (via Saints Wire).

Pool (6-2, 232 pounds) signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas earlier this year. He totaled 441 tackles in five years (51 games) with the Razorbacks.

Vallejo (6-1, 230 pounds) has spent time with five NFL teams since entering the league as a sixth-round pick out of Boise State with the Buffalo Bills in 2017. He played under Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph last season, recording 37 tackles in 17 games (five starts).

Denver is likely looking for more depth at LB after losing Josey Jewell to a groin injury against the Miami Dolphins last week.

Smith (6-2, 210 pounds) was picked by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft out of UCF. He played under Broncos coach Sean Payton from 2018-2021. Smith has totaled 131 receptions for 1,764 yards and 18 touchdowns in 66 career games (35 starts).

Denver already has four former Saints on the 53-man roster. We’ll see if Smith joins them this week.

Former Arkansas linebacker Bumper Pool cut by Panthers

Arkansas’ all-time leading tackler should find a home with another team soon enough.

Former Arkansas linebacker Bumper Pool was among the 11 players cut by the Carolina Panthers on Saturday.

Pool, Arkansas’ all-time leading tackler, signed with the Panthers in late April after not being selected in the NFL Draft.  He will have an opportunity during the rest of the preseason to join another team.

Pool had 441 tackles in his Arkansas career as practically a four-year starter. Known as a sideline-to-sideline linebacker more than a pass-rusher, Pool was known for his nose for the ball.

The other players cut by the Panthers were quarterback Jake Luton, running back Camerun Peoples, wide receivers Gary Jennings and CJ Saunders, tackle Larnel Coleman, defensive lineman Antwuan Jackson, safeties Collin Duncan and Josh Thomas, cornerback Rejzohn Wright and kicker Matthew Wright.

Pool logged six tackles for Carolina in the preseason.
[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

Panthers waive 11 players on Saturday

The first wave of this weekend’s cutdown tsunami has crashed for the Panthers.

On Saturday, the Carolina Panthers began the trek towards their initial 53-man roster—waiving a total of 11 players.

Those players are as follows:

  • QB Jake Luton
  • RB Camerun Peoples
  • WR Gary Jennings
  • WR C.J. Saunders
  • OT Larnel Coleman
  • DT Antwuan Jackson
  • LB Bumper Pool
  • S Collin Duncan
  • S Josh Thomas
  • CB Rejzohn Wright
  • K Matthew Wright

The most notable name of the bunch is, perhaps, Luton. A former sixth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Luton completed eight of his 19 throws for 115 yards, a touchdown and an interception over two preseason outings.

But given the current state of Carolina’s quarterbacks room—with rookie Bryce Young as the starter, veteran Andy Dalton as the backup and Matt Corral barely holding on as the No. 3 option—the cut of Luton was not a surprise in the least.

He and the 10 other players who were waived by Carolina will now hit the waiver wire and can be claimed by another team on Wednesday. If they are not, they will become free agents and could return to the Panthers as part of their practice squad.

[lawrence-related id=679707,679596,679642]

Flashback: Arkansas Football’s Class of 2018

A look back at the Razorbacks 2018 recruiting class. It produced one star, at least.

The Bret Bielema era was over after four seasons, ending in 2017.

Gus Malzahn was – allegedly – the primary target after Bielema’s exit, but Malzahn didn’t want to leave War Eagle after receiving an extension from Auburn. Next on the list, allegedly, was Chad Morris, who became the new head coach, signing a six-year contract in early December 2017.

Despite being an offensive ‘guru’ and successful high school coach, he didn’t pan out. Most of the recruits in his first class were afterthoughts in the grand scheme of things. Only one turned into a diamond and has become a Razorbacks legend.

In hindsight, Morris’s first recruiting class was a sign of what would happen during the 22 games he coached.

‘Madden NFL 24’ ratings for Panthers middle linebackers revealed

The Panthers are a bit little in middle throughout these “Madden NFL 24” ratings.

Unfortunately for the league’s middle linebackers, the quarterbacks—as usual—commanded the spotlight during Friday’s “Madden NFL 24” ratings reveals. So, we’ll let ’em shine a little here.

Check out the marks for the Carolina Panthers’ backers:

Bumper Pool’s football career will continue with Carolina Panthers

Arkansas’ all-time leading tackler will head to the NFL.

Arkansas’ all-time leading tackler will have a chance to play in the NFL.

Linebacker Bumper Pool signed a free-agent deal with the Carolina Panthers on Saturday after he went undrafted in seven rounds.

Pool didn’t have an opportunity to compete in combines in-between season’s end and the draft. But his regular-season play over five years was plenty to earn attention.

Pool left Arkansas as the school’s all-time leading tackler, registering 441 as a sideline-to-sideline type of linebacker. He wasn’t a pass rusher during his time in Fayetteville, instead he was the kind of player who stuffed plays in the hole.

The Texas native was an All-SEC player each of his last three years with the Razorbacks.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=128]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fc3h383th881vsf1 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Examining how Arkansas players did at Pro Day

The NFL scouts poured into Fayetteville to watch 14 Razorbacks perform at the Arkansas Pro Day. 

Spring Football is a good time.

And the NFL scouts poured into Fayetteville to watch 14 Razorbacks perform at the Arkansas Pro Day.

Our Connor Goodson gave a great breakdown leading up to the Pro Day, outlining each of the 14 players’ combine results. Of course, Drew Sanders is the star of the day, being the only player on the 2022 roster projected to be a first-round pick.

Wide receivers Matt Landers and Jaden Haselwood have opportunities to really increase their stock in the next few weeks in the draft. Both have the NFL size and playmaking ability that scouts are looking for.

Offensive lineman, Rick Stromberg, could also be a sleeper in the upcoming draft, possibly joining Sanders in the first round. He is a smart, tough offensive lineman that scouts rarely skip on.

Let’s see how all the Razorbacks did on Wednesday’s pro day.

Everything Sam Pittman said after Arkansas beat Ole Miss

Sam Pittman was all smiles after Arkansas’ huge win over Ole Miss.

Sam Pittman smiled at his wife in the Arkansas post-game press conference.

The Hogs head coach joked he hadn’t had much opportunity in the last couple weeks after Arkansas losses to Liberty and LSU.

In other words, he was in a good mood.

He had every reason to be. Arkansas beat No. 14 Ole Miss, 42-27, to clinch bowl eligibility with one game remaining in the season. It was arguably more important because of how the season had gone to that point.

The return of a healthy KJ Jefferson was paramount. He missed the LSU game with a shoulder injury and questions were everywhere about how well he would be able to throw against Ole Miss.

Turns out, plenty well. He tossed Arkansas’ first three touchdowns and Rocket Sanders ran for Arkansas’ next three en route to a 42-6 lead early in the second half.

Pittman should have enjoyed himself, accordingly.

Ranking Arkansas’ 10 best football players this season

KJ Jefferson or Rocket Sanders? Maybe Drew Sanders? Ranking Arkansas’ best players this season.

The halfway point is was technically over before Arkansas’ last game, a 52-37 win over BYU. But bye weeks are traditionally thought of as the resting point of college football seasons, so we’re taking a ‘halfway point’ approach.

Arkansas’ 4-3 record puts the Razorbacks exactly where they were one year ago at the same time. The difference is how each season felt and who has contributed.

Last year’s team had arguably the best wide receiver the school has ever had in Treylon Burks. He provided first-year starter KJ Jefferson a consistent threat and, when things were stick, an out.

Experienced defensive lineman John Ridgeway, Tre Williams and Markell Utsey solidified a defensive line that may have lacked start power, but not discipline.

Montaric Brown, Joe Foucha and Greg Brooks Jr. were stablizing forces in the secondary after the loss of Jalen Catalon halfway through the season.

Those players are all gone in 2022. Arkansas has sought replacements but varying degrees of success. It’s all but certain, though, someone in the final five games will begin to take that next step the same way all of them once had to take theirs.

Let’s examine the 10 best players on the Arkansas roster this season (and for this season only).

Pool breaking school tackle record is a ‘huge, huge deal’

After breaking the record on Saturday, Pool now has the chance to hold onto this title for quite some time.

The No. 25 Arkansas Razorbacks left Starkville on Saturday disappointed, suffering a 40-17 loss to No. 23 Mississippi State.

While it may seem like there were few positives in the outcome, history was made on Saturday, as linebacker [autotag]Bumper Pool[/autotag] broke the school record for career tackles during the game.

Pool passed Tony Bua on the all-time list, who made 408 stops during his Arkansas career that spanned from 2000-03.

Head coach [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag] told the media after the game that he did not realize that Pool had broken the record.

“I’m sad I didn’t know that when I addressed the team,” Pittman said “I wish we’d have won. If we would have, what a great celebration it would have been for him. I’m so proud of him.”

Pittman went on to share his admiration for Pool, saying that he deserves the honor after giving everything he has for this program.

“He’s hurt all the time. You never hear it, but he is,” Pittman said. “People go ‘well, he missed that tackle.’ Hell, you would too if you felt like Bumper Pool. He’s tough. He’s the best we got. He’s doing great or he wouldn’t be out there. He’s been that way for three years.” 

Pool, who currently has 409 stops with six games remaining in the regular season, has the opportunity to hold onto the record for a very long time. Pittman believes that the record is considered a huge deal.

“Something he’ll be able, his kids will be able to say forever, well, til somebody else breaks it, they’ll be able to say my daddy tackled more guys than anyone else at Arkansas,” Pittman says. “That’s a huge, huge deal. I know it is for him.” 

Pool recorded a season-high 14 tackles on his record-setting day. He now sits at 60 tackles on the season.

[mm-video type=video id=01gemkrnemt4cf9p70e4 playlist_id=01fc3h383th881vsf1 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gemkrnemt4cf9p70e4/01gemkrnemt4cf9p70e4-a330546207ad81873c7ddb493a834a4d.jpg]

[listicle id=13496]