Former Haralson County High School star Blake Poole admitted he occasionally did just that during his redshirt season at Auburn last year.
But through the arduous task of team-mandated workouts — Poole would wake up at 4:45 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays to run sprints, push blocking sleds and climb a hill nicknamed “the green monster” with the team’s other redshirts — the wide receiver turned safety’s attitude changed.
Now, as he prepares for his redshirt freshman campaign knowing more consistent playing time on defense and special teams is a possibility, Poole said he’s content.
“It was kinda tough on me coming in here during camp last fall, because I thought I’d play a whole lot more. But I didn’t. And there were times when I was frustrated, but I was able to overcome it,” Poole said from Auburn on Thursday.
He has remained on campus this summer for position workouts and summer classes.
“I’ve come to love it,” Poole said.
After five months at North Carolina Tech, a prep school in Charlotte, N.C., Poole got a high enough ACT score to transfer to Auburn in time for fall practice last year.
Through those grueling early-morning workouts, Poole’s affinity for the Tiger program and coaching staff actually increased.
“They were to get you better and to get you stronger and to let you compete on the field and let you play more,” Poole said. “The toughest part is probably waking up at 4:45 (a.m.) and knowing that you’ve got to go workout while everyone else is still asleep. But you’ve got to be mentally ready. You gotta gear up and go through it.”
Poole thrived as others dreaded going to the football complex, where the redshirts would also do lunges and run “gassers,” along with other conditioning drills.
He gave credit to Auburn strength and conditioning coach Kevin Yoxall, and Poole also spoke glowingly about head coach Gene Chizik and position coaches Tommy Thigpen and Jay Boulware.
Poole now solidly sees himself as a Tiger, even if a starting job is likely a long ways away. With more playing time, Poole hopes to earn a scholarship.
“He will work his way into a playing position, I feel like,” said Frank Vohun, the former Haralson County football coach, who Poole recorded 55 catches for 1,087 yards and 10 touchdowns for during his senior season in 2007. “Ain’t no doubt about that. He’s too good of a young man not to.”
Poole’s father, Allen, is currently the chairman of Haralson County’s Board of Commissioners, and he remembers taking his son to Georgia games in Athens. Naturally, Blake Poole grew up an avid Bulldog fan, but when the staff at rival Auburn offered a roster spot, Poole couldn’t refuse.
“I grew up as a Georgia fan, and I’m still a Georgia fan,” Allen Poole said. “When they play Auburn, it’s about a 50-50 (split). But die-hard Georgia fans are hard to come by.”
As Allen Poole watched Blake record five tackles and a pass break-up at the Tigers’ A-Day spring game in April, he was proud his son was able to pull through last season’s challenges.
“He was very excited about the opportunity to get some playing time, which we hope will lead to a chance to get some more playing time,” Allen Poole said. “I believe they know his athletic ability.”
Blake Poole believes the same thing. But perhaps more importantly, he feels like part of the team now.
“Once you come to Auburn, you’re not gonna want to leave because it’s a great place,” Poole said. “I’ve made so many friends here, friends who I’ll keep my entire life. Every man is accountable for his own job and the team. We’re so much further ahead than we were at this time last year. I think we’ll do fine.”
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