« Football 2011

Tauren Poole

School
University of Tennessee
Position
Running Back
Major
Sport Psychology

Classroom

Poole graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management in just three years and is currently working on his master’s degree in Sport Psychology. He has also been selected to the Academic All-SEC team in each of his first three years at Tennessee.

Character

Despite being shuffled around under three different head coaches, Poole’s work ethic, attitude and commitment have made him the consummate student-athlete and a role model for the entire team. Not only did he earn the starting nod at running back in 2010 after playing sparsely during his first two seasons, he was also named a team captain, an honor he will likely hold again this year. Poole, selected to represent UT at the 2011 SEC Media Days, is known for putting the team ahead of himself and treating everyone he meets with the utmost respect.

Community

An active participant in Tennessee football’s Vol For Life program, Poole has helped lead the program’s efforts in a number of community-service projects. In conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, the Vols played a critical role in the construction of a home for a Knoxville native this past summer. The Vols also teamed up with the Knoxville police department for a training day event that saw UT players and staff join officers in ride-alongs, as well as armed intruder and K-9 chase simulations. Poole also is actively involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and has served as a guest speaker at a number of events.

Competition

Poole was named a 2010 Associated Press All-SEC honorable-mention selection after rushing for 1,034 yards and 11 touchdowns during his junior campaign. He recorded six 100-yard games, tying for the most by an SEC player. His 1,000 yard season was the 16th in Tennessee history. Poole is on preseason watch lists for both the Doak Walker and Maxwell Awards, which recognize college football’s top running back and most outstanding player, respectively.