Paul Jr. added to Butkus Award watch list

Chris Paul is one of 51 players on the Butkus Award watch list which goes to the nation’s top collegiate linebacker.

Christopher ‘Pooh’ Paul Jr. is going to be a force to be reckoned with in 2023.

The rising sophomore was named to the Butkus Award watch list on Thursday.

He is one of 51 players on the list, alluding to the number 51 that Dick Butkus wore in the NFL and the namesake of the award.

Paul Jr. is coming off earning freshman All-American honors from College Football News and The Athletic as well as freshman All-SEC praise from the league’s coaches.

He compiled 62 tackles with eight of them for a loss and had four sacks, both of which were top five on the team.

The award semifinalists will likely be named by Oct. 30, with finalists to follow on Nov. 20. The winner will be named on or before Dec. 6. A 51-member expert panel of coaches, scouts and journalists is included in the selection process.