Paul now elder LB for Hogs
FAYETTEVILLE — Sophomore Chris “Pooh” Paul came to the Arkansas Razorbacks with a load of leadership qualities and now they will be more widely on display during Liberty Bowl preparations.
Paul will start his second consecutive game in place of fifth-year senior Bumper Pool on Dec. 28, but he will not have the support of junior Drew Sanders against Kansas. Suddenly, Paul is the most experienced player and the elder statesman in the University of Arkansas linebacking unit.
“It’s kind of different out there,” Paul said on a video conference Saturday. “With me playing a bigger role now with Drew Sanders and Bumper Pool gone and things like that, I feel like I have to put more emphasis on leadership. … So I’ve been trying to do that throughout the last few practices and things like that.”
Paul made good use of his work behind Pool this season, racking up 50 tackles to rank sixth on the team, as well as 8 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Paul will be joined in the starting lineup by freshman Jordan Crook.
Fellow freshman Mani Powell, who has recovered from knee surgery, and Jackson Woodard move up to the second unit with playing time expected in the bowl game.
“Crook, playing with him in the bowl game, I think that these guys have really been waiting on their opportunity to shine,” Paul said. “They’ve been putting the work in. So I’m very confident in those guys, knowing they’re going to play their best and go out there and give it their all.
“These past two practices, just seeing Crook fly around, seeing Woody and Mani Powell fly around and letting their voices be heard and things like that, it’s made me very confident in them.”
Coach Sam Pittman was asked about the crew of linebackers behind Paul for the bowl.
“I think Mani Powell would be a guy, certainly,” Pittman said. “Brooks Both is a guy as well. Woodard has played special teams all the time, so he’ll have to move up to that three or four linebacker spot. So you’ve got Pooh and Crook and those two guys, and with Mani Powell and Woodard, those would be probably your guys there. And of course Kaden Henley’s going to have to step up as well.”