Chris Paul Jr. transferred from Arkansas to Ole Miss before the 2024 season and absolutely dominated for the Rebels defense. Here is a 2025 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report and film analysis on him.
Overview, Film Analysis, And Early 2025 Scouting Report Of Ole Miss LB Chris Paul Jr.
Measurables:
- 6’1”
- 235 lbs
Player Background:
Nicknamed “Pooh”, Chris Paul Jr. committed to Arkansas out of Crisp County HS in Georgia as a three-star recruit. He was named a Top-100 LB in the 2021 class and redshirted in his first season with the Razorbacks after appearing in just four games with one tackle. His 2022 campaign put the nation on notice and the postseason honors came flying in. He played in all 13 games and picked up 62 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, four sacks, and one forced fumble.
Paul Jr.’s 2023 season was another good one, staying as one of the team’s best defensive weapons. He picked up 74 total tackles, seven TFLs, two sacks, and missed just six tackles the entire season. He entered the portal and committed to Ole Miss as part of one of the top transfer classes in the country. His 2024 season was likely his best, making 86 tackles with 3.5 sacks, four PBUs, and an interception.
Accolades:
- Freshman All-American (2022)
- Freshman All-SEC (2022)
- All-America Third Team (2024)
- All-SEC First Team (2024)
- Butkus Award Finalist (2024)
- Bednarik Award Semifinalist (2024)
Strengths/Pros:
Paul Jr. absolutely smothers ball carriers when he gets his hands on them, and he has the range to impact plays anywhere on the field. He explodes from his initial stance and works through traffic efficiently and comfortably. He’s knowledgeable in both extending and compacting when making contact with rushers. He holds his ground well and uses good weight distribution to gain quick leverage and finish off tackles.
His aggressiveness remains high no matter how close he is to the ball, and he possesses quick instincts to recognize and adapt to plays as they happen. He has solid vision when defending inside runs, staying in rushing lanes, and attacking when needed. Paul Jr. maintains his space well over the middle in coverage, naturally taking away passing lanes and in-breaking routes. He’s patient on block-and-go routes from the backfield in man coverage. He picks up bursts and stays step-for-step with his assignments.
Weaknesses/Cons:
He’s not concerningly undersized, but his frame is a bit smaller than most prototypical backers. That comes with some struggles in block shedding and keeping his ground against blockers with momentum behind them. Paul Jr. needs to improve his block-shedding technique heavily to become a consistent pass rusher and second-level run stopper. Aligned with those issues, his flexibility and bend have to improve to work past blockers more easily and disengage quickly.
Paul Jr.’s aggressiveness is one of his biggest strengths, but can toe the line of being a weakness. He lets himself drift too far toward the line of scrimmage on some RPOs, giving up some early coverage space. He tends to oversell when driving downhill and will fly by ball carriers. His feet need to be cleaned up in coverage, with visible rawness in his overall technique. They get choppy when rotating between assignments and sometimes get too stationary, letting routes develop too much.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
Paul Jr. is one of the best linebackers in this class, full stop. While he has his fair share of issues and areas to improve, he should be an integral part of an NFL defense the moment he steps into their facility. His ability to disrupt plays all over the field is uber-important in the modern, highly-athletic NFL. Discipline and block-shedding are the main focal points for reaching his ceiling, which is that of a long-term high-impact LB for any team.
Prospect Grade:
- Mid 2nd Round
Film Exposures:
- 2024 vs. Georgia
- 2024 vs. LSU
- 2024 vs. Arkansas
Main Image: Matt Bush-Imagn Images
