Ole Miss LB Pooh Paul declares for NFL Draft
Ole Miss linebacker Chris “Pooh” Paul, who led the Rebels in total tackles (88) this season, has declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, he announced.
“To Rebel Nation, I want to thank you for accepting me with open arms,” Paul said in his tweet. “Y’all were nothing but supportive towards me and my family, and I will be forever grateful for your gratitude towards me and my family throughout my time as a Rebel.
“To my brothers and coaches, I want to thank y’all as well,” Paul added. “Thank you for allowing (me) to become a part of of something special. We have created a bond that will last an eternity and I’m forever grateful and proud to have gone to war with y’all each and everyday.
“I’m extremely blessed to announce that I have decided to enter my name into the 2025 NFL Draft to pursue my dream.”
Pooh Paul’s a finalist for the Butkus Award, which is awarded annually to college football’s best linebacker. The only other Butkus finalist in school history was Patrick Willis. Willis won the award in 2010. Willis this year became just the third Ole Miss Rebel inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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Paul transferred to Ole Miss from Arkansas last off-season as part of a transfer class ranked No. 3 nationally by On3. He finished with 50 solo tackles, 38 assisted tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, four pass break-ups and an interception.
“Coming in I just wanted to be an impact player,” Paul told the Rebel Walk last week. “Just being one of those impact transfers and a person that the guys look at. A source of energy and a leader.”
Paul anchored arguably Ole Miss’ best modern-day defense. The Rebels were among the national leaders in a number of statistical categories, among them sacks and tackles for loss.
The Rebels finished 9-3 (5-3 SEC) and are headed to the Gator Bowl to face Duke.
