When Chris Paul Jr. decided to leave Arkansas for Ole Miss, the college football world barely blinked. Sure, he was a solid linebacker for the Hogs, but in the era of the transfer portal, big-name defensive players move like pieces on a chessboard every single Tuesday. People mostly just made jokes about his name. "Is he related to the NBA's Point God?" (He’s not, by the way).
But then the 2024 season actually started.
Suddenly, this kid—mostly known as "Pooh" to his teammates—wasn't just a depth piece. He was the literal engine of an Ole Miss defense that spent the year embarrassing SEC offensive lines. If you watched any Rebels games last fall, you saw it. He was everywhere. Sideline to sideline. Downhill. Relentless.
Honestly, his story is the perfect example of how one "right" move in the portal can turn a good college player into a legitimate NFL prospect.
Why Chris Paul Jr. at Ole Miss Was a Match Made in Heaven
Lane Kiffin is a smart guy. He knew exactly what he was doing when he went after Paul. During the 2023 season, when Ole Miss played Arkansas, Kiffin noticed that his offense could actually move the ball much easier once Paul went down with an injury. It was a lightbulb moment. When Paul hit the portal, Kiffin didn't just want him; he needed him.
The fit was basically perfect. Ole Miss had the flashy offense, but they needed a "trash man" in the middle of the defense. Someone to clean up the messes.
Paul arrived in Oxford with a chip on his shoulder and a nickname that sounds soft but plays hard. He brought that "Navy discipline" from his father, a veteran, and injected it into a defense that had plenty of talent but sometimes lacked that specific brand of grit.
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By the time the regular season wrapped up, Paul was leading the Rebels with 88 total tackles. He wasn't just piling up numbers, either. He was efficient. PFF (Pro Football Focus) ended up ranking him as the No. 1 rated linebacker in the entire FBS at one point during the season with a grade over 90.0. That doesn't happen by accident.
Breaking Down the 2024 Stats
If you're a numbers person, Paul's 2024 season at Ole Miss looks like a video game:
- Total Tackles: 88 (leading the team)
- Tackles for Loss (TFL): 11.0
- Sacks: 3.5
- Interceptions: 1 (A massive one against Mississippi State to cap off the year)
- Pass Breakups: 4
The most impressive part? He helped anchor a defense that set school records with 52 sacks and 120 tackles for loss. He was the glue.
The NFL Draft Journey: From Oxford to the League
Everything changed for Chris Paul Jr. at Ole Miss regarding his professional ceiling. At Arkansas, he was seen as a productive SEC starter. At Ole Miss, he became an All-American.
He didn't wait around for his senior year. He declared for the 2025 NFL Draft as a redshirt junior. He headed to the NFL Scouting Combine and proved he had the wheels to match the production, clocking a 4.63-second 40-yard dash. Not blazing, but for a 235-pound linebacker who plays with his level of instincts? It was more than enough.
The Los Angeles Rams eventually came calling.
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In April 2025, the Rams selected Paul with the 172nd overall pick in the fifth round. It was a historic moment for the program—he became the highest-drafted Ole Miss inside linebacker since the legendary Patrick Willis went 11th overall in 2007. That is some heavy company to keep.
What Most People Get Wrong About "Pooh"
There's a misconception that Paul is just a "run stuffer." People see a 6'1", 230-ish pound linebacker from the SEC and assume he’s just there to take on fullbacks and pullers.
That's wrong.
What actually made Chris Paul Jr. so valuable to Pete Golding’s defense at Ole Miss was his ability to stay on the field for three downs. He’s surprisingly "sticky" in coverage. He’s got these oily, loose hips that let him mirror tight ends and backs out of the backfield. During the 2024 season, his PFF coverage grade was near the top of the SEC for his position.
He’s not just a thumper. He’s a modern linebacker.
Real Talk: The Size Issue
If we’re being real, though, there's a reason he went in the fifth round and not the first. He’s a bit undersized. In the NFL, he’s going to run into 320-pound guards who have longer arms than him. If he gets caught in the wash, he can get swallowed up. That’s the reality.
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But his game isn't about power-lifting offensive linemen. It's about beating them to the spot. His first step is incredibly quick, and his diagnostic skills—his ability to see a play developing before it happens—are elite.
Impact on the Ole Miss Program
You can't talk about the 2024 Rebels without mentioning how Paul changed the culture of that defense. Before he got there, Ole Miss was known for "out-scoring" people. After he got there, they were known for "suffocating" people.
He was a finalist for the Butkus Award, given to the best linebacker in the country. He was an Associated Press Third-Team All-American. More than the trophies, he proved that Ole Miss could be a destination for elite defensive transfers, not just flashy receivers and quarterbacks.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Scouts
If you’re following Chris Paul Jr.’s career as he moves into the professional ranks, here are a few things to keep an eye on:
- Watch the Special Teams: Because of his size and speed, Paul is likely to be a "core four" special teams player early in his NFL career. This is how he’ll stick on a roster.
- The "Will" Role: In the NFL, he’s ideally suited as a WILL (Weakside) linebacker. This allows him to use his lateral agility to chase plays down without having to take on lead blockers head-on every snap.
- Growth Potential: He’s only 23. There’s room to add another 5-10 pounds of "good" weight to his frame without losing that 4.6 speed. If he does that, he’s a potential starter.
Chris Paul Jr. basically gambled on himself when he left the Hill for the Grove. He wanted to play for a winner, he wanted to play in a system that showcased his versatility, and he wanted to prove he was more than just a name.
Safe to say, the gamble paid off. He left Oxford as one of the most decorated linebackers in recent memory and a clear blueprint for how to use the transfer portal to change your life.
If you're looking to track his progress in the NFL, keep an eye on the Rams' preseason defensive rotations. His ability to diagnose the run early will be the tell-tale sign of whether he cracks the two-deep depth chart sooner rather than later.
Check the injury reports and depth chart updates specifically for the "Inside Linebacker" or "WILL" positions, as that is where his path to a starting role lies.