2018 Four-Star LB Bumper Pool Hopes to Visit Notre Dame
Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy linebacker Bumper Pool is an attention getter, not just for his unique name, but for his on-field talent as well.
Pool, four-star,is currently ranked as the No.8 inside linebacker in the class of 2018, and holds offers from Alabama, LSU, Michigan, and several others.
The name, Pool said, was a decision his father made years before Bumper was born.
“My dad, in high school, said he was going to name his first son Bumper, and I guess it stuck throughout the years,” Pool said. “And here we are today.”
In the past year, Pool’s recruitment has started to pick up steam. The offers have been coming in, and Pool said it’s an exciting time for him.
“Recruiting has been kind of crazy the past year,” Pool said. “So I’ve been excited about it.”
Notre Dame has yet to offer Pool, but the four-star said they were in contact with him early on September 1 when the contact period for 2018 prospects began, and invited him to South Bend to see what the school has to offer.
“They talked to me that morning right after practice,” Pool said. “They’ve just kind of been getting to know me. They wanted to make sure I was invited to come to a game this season. It was just kind of an introduction, and that was the first introduction that I’ve had to Notre Dame.”
Pool said he hopes to make good on that invitation and attend an Irish home game in 2016, so he can see all the good things he’s heard about Notre Dame for himself.
“Notre Dame is a great program,” Pool said. “They have been, and they will be. I’ve got a whole bunch of friends that are Notre Dame fans, so it’s pretty cool just to hear from them.”
Should an offer come, that desire to see Notre Dame would only intensify.
“I definitely would be interested,” Pool said. “I would love to go up there for a game and see everything.”
It would be a long trip. It’s just under 1,000 miles from Lovejoy to Notre Dame’s campus. Still, Pool said distance won’t have much of an impact on his decision.
“I wouldn’t say distance will (be a factor),” Pool said. “It’s just where I’m comfortable on campus and comfortable with the coaching staff, and being able to see myself up there for four years.”
Wherever he ends up, Pool said that the recruiting process has been a humbling experience.
“It’s crazy to think you could be playing for these great programs when a couple years ago you were just playing middle school football,” Pool said. “It’s truly been a blessing and I’ve loved every second of it.”
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