Ole Miss linebacker Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul Jr. Named Butkus Award Semifinalist

CHICAGO – (Release) Ole Miss football junior linebacker Chris Paul Jr. has been named one of 15 semifinalists for the 40th annual Butkus Award, which honors the best linebackers in the nation, as announced by the Butkus Foundation on Monday.

Paul Jr. is one of six semifinalists from the SEC, which led all conferences on the semifinal list. The junior Arkansas transfer has helped lead a powerful Ole Miss defense that leads the nation in tackles for loss (94) and sacks (41), currently ranking as the Rebels’ top tackler at 65 stops. Additionally, Paul Jr. owns 10.0 TFL for 37 yards, 2.5 sacks for 16 yards, eight QB hurries, four pass breakups and one fumble recovery.

Per PFF, Paul Jr. is the top-rated FBS linebacker in the nation at an overall season grade of 90.4 – the only linebacker to break 90 on the grading scale. Paul Jr. is ranked highly among all defenders as well, currently ranked as the SEC’s top-rated defender overall and the No. 3 defender in the FBS. Among linebackers, Paul Jr. also ranks FBS top-10 in run defense (third, 89.0), tackling (fourth, 86.8), coverage (eighth, 86.3) and pass rushing (10th, 80.8).

Finalists will be named November 25 and winners named by December 10. In addition to those named, a write-in option is available to the 51-person Butkus Award selection committee.

The 51-person Butkus Award selection committee comprised of coaches, scouts and journalists guides the selection process emphasizing qualities that defined Dick Butkus’ career: toughness, on-field leadership, competitiveness, football character and linebacking skills. The Award is increasingly focused on recognizing linebackers who consistently play off the ball on their feet in a two-point stance in traditional form.

A Butkus Award celebration featuring the three winners is planned Sat., Feb. 1, 2025, at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois, where the Award’s namesake, the late Dick Butkus, established his legendary career. The celebration will be featured in the Butkus Award special airing on the Big Ten Network in February 2025. More information will be at www.butkusfoundation.org.

2024 Butkus Award Collegiate Semifinalists
Sean Brown – NC State
Jihaad Campbell – Alabama
Barrett Carter – Clemson
Shaun Dolac – Buffalo
Aiden Fisher – Indiana
Jay Higgins – Iowa
Anthony Hill Jr. – Texas
Deontae Lawson – Alabama
Chandler Martin – Memphis
Chris Paul Jr. – Ole Miss
Carson Schwesinger – UCLA
Danny Stutsman – Oklahoma
Sonny Styles – Ohio State
Shae Suiaunoa – Wyoming
Jalon Walker – Georgia

About the Butkus Award: Founded in 1985, the Butkus Award honors linebackers at three levels while supporting causes important to the Butkus family. Causes include Butkus Takes Heart™ initiative encouraging early cardiovascular screening among adults, and the I Play Clean® initiative encouraging athletes to train naturally without performance-enhancing drugs. A 51-member expert panel of coaches, scouts and journalists guides the selection process. The Butkus Foundation has presented the high school and professional awards since 2008. The collegiate award is now in its 40th season.