Chris Paul Jr. attended Crisp County High School in Georgia, where he played linebacker and running back. He had 157 tackles and 4.5 sacks his junior year and 91 tackles and 2.5 sacks as a senior. Paul was a consensus three-star prospect and rated the No. 22 inside linebacker in his class. During his senior season, Paul committed to play football at the University of Arkansas.
Paul played in four games and took a redshirt in his first year at Arkansas in 2021. As a redshirt freshman in 2022, he started two of 13 games and recorded 62 tackles and four sacks. As a sophomore hel started nine of 11 games and finished with 74 tackles and two sacks. After the season, he entered the transfer portal and transferred to the University of Mississippi.