Missouri State

At MSU: Jeron Poole is one of two incumbent starters at linebacker and figures to hold down a similar role again in 2007. He made an immediate impact upon transferring last year, ranking 10th on the team in tackles and starting five games. He ranks second among returning tacklers this season. He had a season-best 13 tackles last year against Central Arkansas. He also had eight tackles and a forced fumble against Sam Houston State, eight tackles against Southwest Baptist, seven against Youngstown State and six at Oklahoma State.

Background: Poole arrived at Missouri State in 2006 after spending the previous two seasons at College of Sequoias in California where his team finished 10-2 and was ranked third in the state. He was a first team all-state performer and his team's defensive captain and defensive player of the Year at COS. As a prep, Poole was a two-time first team all-conference linebacker at Skyline High in Oakland, California, before moving to James Bowie High in Austin, Texas, for his senior year.

Personal: Jeron Omari Poole was born 6/9/85 in San Francisco, Calif., the son of Ron Poole and Phaedra Bell. He is majoring in criminology. His grandfather, John Poole, was the first African-American golfer to compete in the NCAA.