The Pittsburgh Steelers have been on a tumultuous eight-year journey looking for solutions on the inside linebacker place. There are nonetheless some uncertainties on the place, and the Steelers may add one other inside linebacker within the draft with good tackling expertise and a excessive soccer IQ. Ole Miss LB Chris Paul Jr. may very well be that participant.
In an interview on the 2025 NFL Scouting Mix with our Ross McCorkle, Paul mentioned what he’s going to deliver to the staff that drafts him.
“You’re gonna get anyone who’s actually passionate,” stated Paul. “Someone who has been via loads of obstacles and is aware of how one can face adversity. Someone who loves the sport, a area normal, a sideline to sideline participant.”
Paul recorded 86 tackles in his senior season at Ole Miss, in addition to 3.5 sacks, one interception and one fumble restoration. He was named to second-team All-SEC. He’s an incredible blitzer, tackler, and is sweet in zone protection. But his finest trait is perhaps his management. Paul will get praised for his management, however he offers numerous credit score to being a pupil of the sport, modeling after NFL studs like present Denver Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
“Dre Greenlaw, Fred Warner, Roquan Smith, Patrick Queen, these guys who actually simply sit again and are college students of the sport. Their leaders on and off the sphere as nicely. They provide again to the communities. Soccer isn’t only a sport for them, it’s a life-style. I grew up in a small city in South Georgia, soccer to us it’s not only a sport, it’s a life-style.”
Whereas velocity, tackling, and protection are important traits for inside linebackers, there’s additionally the duty of communication and sign calling. The “inexperienced dot” within the NFL is worn by the linebacker who’s geared up with a radio to speak with the teaching employees, and basically play the position of quarterback for the protection. Paul acquired the possibility to experiment with that position final season.
“You must be a area normal. You’ve gotten to have the ability to talk and know what’s occurring round you, to play quick and bodily like I play. Final 12 months was really an incredible alternative for faculty soccer as we have been launched to the inexperienced dot…It was an incredible alternative for us to get reps on the inexperienced dot, change into accustomed to it, get comfy with it and be taught the methods of it. I actually loved being the inexperienced dot, communication got here via me. The fellows checked out me for solutions and that’s one thing I wished to listen to.”
Paul was actually comfy speaking together with his teammates. Requested whether or not he trash talks opponents on the sphere, Paul as a substitute talked about his pleasant banter with teammates throughout apply.
“I do [trash talk] typically simply not essentially on sport day…versus my teammates. We simply have that bond, , we wish to mess with one another. It’s similar to boys going at it each day…Together with your brothers, you’re going to trash speak slightly bit, however it’s all enjoyable and video games on the finish of the day.”
The Steelers are acquainted with trash speak throughout apply, and head coach Mike Tomlin likes to instigate it. Tomlin trash talks his players and encourages them to dish it again, as a result of he needs to ignite the hearth inside his guys, particularly on protection. Paul may slot in completely within the black-and-gold.
In line with Paul, he talked with the Steelers on the East-West Shrine sport. He stated the interviews “went good.” It stays to be seen how the Steelers felt, however Paul is an intriguing mid-round possibility for the Steelers in the event that they need to enhance the depth of their linebacker room by including an clever, passionate chief on the place.
Checkout our full analysis of Chris Paul Jr. here.
