Chris Paul (offensive lineman)

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Chris Paul

| image = Chris Paul Pentagon Visit October 22, 2024 (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Paul with the Washington Commanders in 2024

| current_team = Washington Commanders

| number = 75

| position = Guard

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|11|19}}

| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 324

| high_school = Jersey Village {{nowrap|(Jersey Village, Texas)}}

| college = Tulsa (2017–2021)

| draftyear = 2022

| draftround = 7

| draftpick = 230

| pastteams =

Washington Commanders ({{NFL Year|2022}}–present)

| status = Active

| statleague = NFL

| statweek =

| statseason = 2024

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 17

| statlabel2 = Games started

| statvalue2 = 8

| highlights =

| pfr = PaulCh00

}}

Christopher Kelechi Paul (born November 19, 1998) is an American professional football guard for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and was drafted by the Commanders in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft. Paul is the grandson of the former Nigerian president Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi and the older brother of NFL offensive tackle Patrick Paul. He has released R&B music under the stage name The Seventh.

Early life

Paul was ranked as a two{{endash}}star recruit by 247Sports coming out of high school.{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/Player/Chris-Paul-88540/high-school-169397/|title=Chris Paul Recruiting Profile|website=247Sports.com}} He enrolled at The University of Tulsa in 2017 and played for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team, graduating with a bachelor's degree in computer information systems in May 2021.{{cite web |title=Chris Paul - Football |url=https://tulsahurricane.com/sports/football/roster/chris-paul/10088 |website=tulsahurricane.com |access-date=November 19, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/player/chris-paul-88540/|title=Chris Paul 247|website=247Sports.com}} Paul played in the 2022 Senior Bowl for the American team.

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 3 7/8

| weight = 323

| dash = 4.89

| ten split = 1.71

| twenty split = 2.84

| shuttle = 4.83

| cone drill = 7.74

| vertical = 27.0

| broad ft = 9

| broad in = 1

| bench = 26

| arm span = 33 5/8

| hand span = 9 3/8

| note = Sources:{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/chris-paul/32005041-5507-6683-511f-990ce345703c |title=Chris Paul Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=April 8, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1052122&DraftYear=2022 |title=2022 NFL Draft Scout Chris Paul College Football Profile |access-date=April 8, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}

}}

Paul was selected by the Washington Commanders in the seventh round (230th overall) of the 2022 NFL draft and signed his four-year rookie contract on May 6, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://washingtonfootballwire.usatoday.com/2022/04/30/washington-commanders-select-tulsa-guard-chris-paul-no-230-overall-in-the-2022-nfl-draft/|first=Bryan|last=Manning|title=Commanders select Tulsa guard Chris Paul No. 230 overall in the 2022 NFL draft|website=WashingtonWire|date=April 30, 2022 }}{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Charean |title=Commanders sign four draft choices, including Sam Howell |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/05/06/commanders-sign-four-draft-choices-including-sam-howell/ |website=Pro Football Talk |access-date=May 6, 2022 |date=May 6, 2022}} He made his first career start in the final game of his rookie season.{{cite web |last1=Manning |first1=Bryan |title=Commanders inactives for Week 18 vs. Cowboys |url=https://commanderswire.usatoday.com/2023/01/08/washington-commanders-inactives-for-week-18-vs-dallas-cowboys/ |website=Commanders Wire |date=January 8, 2023 |publisher=USA Today |access-date=January 9, 2023}}

In the 2023 offseason, Paul lost out to Saahdiq Charles for the starting left guard position.{{cite news|url=https://www.commanders.com/news/chris-paul-grateful-to-compete-for-starting-lg-spot|work=Commanders.com|title=Chris Paul 'grateful' to compete for starting LG spot|first=Zach|last=Selby|date=August 2, 2023|accessdate=October 31, 2023}} After Charles was placed on injured reserve, Paul took over as starter in Week 8.{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2023 |title=Commanders-Eagles Stats & Snaps |url=https://www.commanders.com/news/commanders-eagles-stats-snaps-x2114 |access-date=October 31, 2023 |website=Commanders.com}}

Personal life

Paul's grandfather is Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, who served as the President of Nigeria in 1966 before being assassinated.{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Patrick |date=September 13, 2023 |title=From Houston to Nigeria and Back: My Journey Beyond Football |url=https://uhcougars.com/news/2023/9/13/from-houston-to-nigeria-and-back-my-journey-beyond-football |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=University of Houston Athletics |language=en}} His younger brother Patrick was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of 2024 NFL draft.{{Cite web |date=26 April 2024 |title=NFL Draft 2024: With 55th pick, Miami Dolphins select OT Patrick Paul |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/nfl-draft-2024-with-55th-pick-miami-dolphins-select/ |access-date=7 May 2024 |website=CBS News|agency=Associated Press}} Paul has released R&B music under the stage name The Seventh.{{Cite web |last=Stephen |first=Whyno |date=May 11, 2022 |title=Other Chris Paul making his own name on, off football field |url=https://apnews.com/article/washington-commanders-phoenix-suns-nfl-nba-entertainment-9656d6ab7b9382f443859a38c4dc405c |access-date=November 19, 2022 |website=AP News}}

References

External links

{{Twitter|BigChrisPaul}}
[https://www.commanders.com/team/players-roster/chris-paul/ Washington Commanders profile]
[https://tulsahurricane.com/sports/football/roster/chris-paul/10088 Tulsa Golden Hurricane profile]

{{Portal bar|American football|Biography|College football|Rhythm and blues|Texas|border=no}}

Category:1998 births

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:African-American male singer-songwriters

Category:American football offensive guards

Category:American football offensive tackles

Category:American rhythm and blues singers

Category:American players of American football of Nigerian descent

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from Houston

Category:Players of American football from Houston

Category:Singer-songwriters from Texas

Category:Tulsa Golden Hurricane football players

Category:Washington Commanders players