Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul, Jr. brings ‘intensity’ to the field

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Ole Miss linebacker Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul, Jr. had an excellent 2024 season anchoring the Rebels’ dominant defensive unit. Paul’s versatility really stands out.

He led the team with 88 tackles, racking up 11 tackles for loss with three and a half sacks. Paul is also more than capable in coverage.

“I’ve always been a physical player,” said the Ole Miss linebacker. “I’ve always been a sideline to sideline player. That’s just something that was instilled in me when I was younger. Just how to play the linebacker position. I feel like every step that I took, I got better each year. I’m going to continue to improve. I know it’s things that I have to work on. I know it’s things that NFL scouts probably see that I thought I got better at. I’m going to harp on those things.”

Paul’s breakout season earned him third team All-American honors. There was one game in particular when Paul realized he would forgo his final college season because he was ready for the NFL.

“We played the Georgia game and as we all know teams like Georgia, Bama, those are the big dollars in the league,” said Paul.

“But to watch me and my teammates go out there and handle business the way that we did, it really showed me. I think I’m ready to take my talents to the next step as well as you can see we got 11 total guys here. I wasn’t the only one that was thinking that way.”

The former Ole Miss linebacker added that he has kept in contact with his teammates and he’s excited to see where they end up.

Trey Amos, who is projected to be a high round draft pick at cornerback, was Paul’s teammate this past season at Ole Miss.

“He brings intensity,” Amos said when referring to Paul’s play. “He brings everything to the table. Outside of football and inside of football. He’s just a person that you build the whole defense around.”

Paul did meet with the Bills formally at the NFL Scouting Combine. He is projected to be a third or fourth round draft pick.