How did Jaxson Dart win over new Ole Miss linebacker Chris 'Pooh' Paul? Video games
When Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul, Jr. — who prefers to go by Pooh — hit the transfer portal and made his official visit to Ole Miss he committed to Lane Kiffin and Pete Golding that first night, but that did not stop Jaxson Dart from continuing the full court press on recruitment.
The former Arkansas linebacker is yet another Ole Miss transfer that has experienced the Dart effect. Defense end Princely Umanmielen bonded with Dart over frequent Facetime calls, so did Paul but there was another form of medium the pair formed their friendship over.
Video games.
Whether it was Fortnite or Call of Duty Paul and Dart would get to know each other over video games. Just another example of what the Ole Miss quarterback will do to continue the growth and chemistry of this year’s team.
“It was normal. Like two friends hanging out,” Paul said on Thursday of his first interactions with Dart. “Even before then. We were playing Fortnite together or Call of Duty or something. We were just playing the game together, just getting to know each other. With us two being two great players in the SEC we already had some talks and things like that. Not necessarily before my time in the portal. It was just all happening in the portal. Once I hit the portal, once I was officially in, he was one of the first guys to reach out. Saying, ‘I just want to get to know you.'”
When Dart and Paul connect online who wins?
“Me, of course,” Paul said with a smile.
Paul and Princely are two that have been outspoken about Dart’s hands-on approach to building the 2024 roster.
The video calls and time spent playing video games are just two examples of what Paul has seen in Dart’s off the field leadership.
“It shows me how much he cares about his teammate and how much he cares about the game,” Paul said. “For somebody to be so involved in the recruitment process, he’s showing me that he cares about the growth of this team and the growth of the community around him.”
Paul is yet another defensive newcomer that speaks highly of their short time with Ole Miss coordinator Pete Golding.
Golding had received nothing but high marks and praise from players to Kiffin. Whenever safety Daijahn Anthony is asked about playing under Golding he immediately hits the recruit button, telling prospective recruits to come sit under the second-year coordinator’s learning tree.
Umanmielen openly said this week how he has drastically developed in just over a month’s time in Golding’s system compared to the four years spent at Florida with three different defensive coordinators.
For Paul the praise is more of the same and it seems the Ole Miss defense is motivated to do anything Golding asks of them.
“Honestly, I can’t put my finger on it. There’s just something about coach Golding. He’s a special guy, special coach,” Paul said. “He’s somebody you want to be coached by. He requires and he puts effort towards giving your best every day and putting your best foot forward. You’re going to mess up, but mess up full speed. Always giving that effort. Coach Golding’s that guy, his phone’s open 24-7. No matter what’s going on. Football related or not.”
