Chris Paul Jr.
| Seattle Seahawks | |
|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker |
| Roster status |  Injured reserve |
| Personal information | |
| Born | November 4, 2002 Cordele, Georgia, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Crisp County (Cordele, Georgia) |
| College | Arkansas (2021–2023) Ole Miss (2024) |
| NFL draft | 2025: 5th round, 172nd overall pick |
| Career history | |
| |
* Offseason or practice squad member only | |
| Awards and highlights | |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
Christopher "Pooh" Paul Jr. (born November 4, 2002) is an American professional football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks and Ole Miss Rebels. Paul was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Early life
Paul Jr. was born on November 4, 2002 in Cordele, Georgia.[1] He attended Crisp County High School in Cordele, where he played linebacker and running back. He had 157 tackles with 4.5 sacks his junior year, and 91 tackles with 2.5 sacks as a senior.[2] He committed to the University of Arkansas to play college football.[3]
College career
Paul Jr. played in four games and took a redshirt his first year at Arkansas in 2021.[4] As a redshirt freshman in 2022, he started two of 13 games and recorded 62 tackles and four sacks.[5][6] As a redshirt sophomore in 2023, Paul Jr. started nine of 11 games and finished with 74 tackles and two sacks. After the season, he entered the transfer portal and transferred to the University of Mississippi.[7][8] Paul Jr. was a starter in his first season at Ole Miss in 2024, where he was named to the All-SEC second team but selected by the USA Today to their All-America first team.[9][10]
Professional career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Wingspan | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 0+7⁄8 in (1.85 m) | 222 lb (101 kg) | 29+7⁄8 in (0.76 m) | 9+3⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 6 ft 3+3⁄8 in (1.91 m) | 4.63 s | 1.62 s | 2.69 s | 4.45 s | 7.46 s | 36.0 in (0.91 m) | 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) | |
| All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[11][12] | ||||||||||||
Los Angeles Rams
Paul was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the 172nd overall pick in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft.[13] He was waived by Los Angeles on August 26, 2025 as a part of final roster cuts.[14]
Seattle Seahawks
On August 28, 2025, Paul signed with the Seattle Seahawks' practice squad.[15] On February 12, 2026, he signed a reserve/futures contract with Seattle.[16]
On August 27, 2026, Paul was waived with an injury and reverted to injured reserve the next day.[17][18]
References
- ↑ Katz, Michael (November 14, 2024). "Pooh Paul's positivity always shines through". The Dispatch. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
- ↑ Dawson, Dudley E. (February 20, 2021). "New Arkansas linebacker Paul lauded by former foe". Whole Hog Sports. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ↑ Holt, Bob (August 5, 2021). "HOG FUTURES: Georgia linebacker Chris Paul Jr. adjusting early with team". Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ↑ Patience paved the way for Pooh Paul
- ↑ Paul now elder linebacker for Hogs
- ↑ 'I’ve got a lot to make up for': Paul excited to be full-go for BYU
- ↑ Top transfer linebacker commits to Ole Miss
- ↑ Ole Miss football, Lane Kiffin land Chris Paul Jr., transfer linebacker from Arkansas
- ↑ "Colorado's Travis Hunter, Boise State's Ashton Jeanty lead USA TODAY Sports All-America team". USA Today.
- ↑ Chris 'Pooh' Paul Jr. takes his game to another level on Saturdays
- ↑ Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "Chris Paul Jr. Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
- ↑ "Chris Paul Jr. College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
- ↑ Jackson, Stu (April 26, 2025). "READ: Rams select ILB Chris Paul Jr. with 172nd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft". TheRams.com.
- ↑ Miller, Wyatt. "Rams waive 22 players, release one, waive/injured two in final group of cuts ahead of 2025 53-man roster deadline". therams.com. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ↑ "Seahawks Sign LB Chazz Surratt To 53-Man Roster & Add Two To Practice Squad". Seahawks.com. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
- ↑ Boyle, John. "Seahawks Sign 15 To Future Contracts". seahawks.com. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ↑ Ulrich, Logan (August 27, 2026). "Seahawks Claimed OT Kellen Diesch, Waived/Injured LB Chris Paul". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
- ↑ Arthur, Kenneth. "Disappointing Rams 2025 draft pick gets cut again". Sports.Yahoo.com. Retrieved August 29, 2026.