2023 Butkus Award Watch List
2022 Second-Team Freshman All-American (CFN, The Athletic)
2022 Freshman All-SEC
2022 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Produced an outstanding season, earning Second-Team Freshman All-American from College Football News and The Athletic and Freshman All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches … Played in all 13 games, starting the final two games of the season, making 62 tackles along with eight tackles for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery… His eight tackles for loss ranked third on the team with his four sacks ranking fourth on the squad … Made five tackles in season-opening win over Cincinnati (Sept. 3) … Followed up with a career-best two tackles for loss, including a sack, as part of a five-tackle performance with a forced fumble and fumble recovery in South Carolina (Sept. 10) victory … Picked up two more tackles in win over Missouri State (Sept. 17) … Made one stop vs. Texas A&M (Sept. 24) and added two more vs. Alabama (Oct. 1) … Recorded five stops at Mississippi State (Oct. 8) … Logged three tackles, including a tackle for loss, at BYU (Oct. 15) … Notched his second sack of the season in win at Auburn (Oct. 29) as part of a five-tackle game … Made two tackles vs. Liberty (Nov. 5) … Matched his career-best with two tackles for loss and set a career-high with a pair of sacks vs. LSU (Nov. 12) … Recorded a TFL for the second straight game, making seven stops in win over Ole Miss (Nov. 19) … Earned his first career start and made it three straight games with a tackle for loss at Missouri (Nov. 25), led the team with nine tackles … Collected a career-high 12 tackles in AutoZone Liberty Bowl victory over Kansas (Dec. 28).
2021 (FRESHMAN): Redshirted during his first season … Appeared in four games, seeing time against Georgia Southern (Sept. 18), against UAPB (Oct. 23), against Missouri (Nov. 26) and against Penn State (Jan. 1) in the Outback Bowl win … Made first collegiate appearance against Georgia Southern … Credited with his first career tackle and tackle for loss against UAPB.
HIGH SCHOOL: Rated a consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN … Rated the No. 22 inside linebacker in his class … Ranked the No. 61 player in Georgia by Rivals … Played linebacker and running back for head coach Brad Barber at Crisp County High School … As a senior, made 91 total tackles in 11 games and added 20.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks … Also forced one fumble and blocked one punt … Offensively, rushed eight times for 67 yards (8.4 ypc) and a touchdown and made four grabs for 57 yards (14.3 ypc) and a touchdown … As a junior, made 157 tackles with 10.0 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, leading Crisp County to an 11-4 record … He also rushed 13 times for 113 yards (8.7 ypc) and three touchdowns and also made 10 catches for 112 yards (11.2 ypc) and two touchdowns … As a sophomore, recorded 92 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, while reaching the state championship game … CHOSE ARKANSAS OVER: Nebraska, Cincinnati, Louisville, Tennessee and others.
PERSONAL: Born Nov. 4, 2002 … Son of Velieka and Chris Paul Sr. … Father is a United States Navy veteran … Has six older sisters and one younger brother.
