Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Paulus works out for Packers

Greg Paulus hasn't played a down of college football but the Duke basketball player worked out for the Green Bay Packers on campus last week.

A Duke spokesman confirmed the report by ProFootballTalk.com that Paulus, a All-American quarterback in high school, worked out for a Packers scout. Paulus threw passes to Duke's All-ACC receiver Eron Riley, who's considered a late-round draft prospect. They were the only two players at the workout, according to Duke.

Paulus, who started three seasons for the Blue Devils' basketball team and was a reserve guard on this year's ACC championship team, hasn't taken a snap at quarterback since the 2004 U.S. Army All-American game.

He went 42-3 as a starter at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, N.Y. and set the state record for passing yards (11,763). He finished his prep career with 152 passing touchdowns.

Scout.com rated Paulus the ninth-best quarterback prospect in his high school class — ahead of Big 12 stars Colt McCoy (Texas) and Chase Daniel (Missouri) — and he received multiple scholarship offers to play football, notably at Notre Dame.

Technically, Paulus, who will graduate with a political science degree next month, still has a season of college football eligibility.

He could play for Duke or transfer to a Division II program (the NCAA changed its transfer rules in 2006 which would prevent Paulus from playing for another Division I team).

Given Duke's quarterback situation, with senior Thad Lewis, a three-year starter, and redshirt freshman Sean Renfree, a top prospect, it's unlikely Paulus would play for Duke in 2009. He could practice with the team and learn from Duke coach David Cutcliffe, a noted quarterback specialist, but that wouldn't help him in terms of game action.

Paulus is coming off difficult senior season in basketball. He lost his starting point guard job to Nolan Smith in November, then briefly won it back in February, but was sent back to the bench and didn't play more than 20 minutes in the final 12 games of his career.

He averaged 4.9 points and 16.1 minutes — both career-lows — in 36 games.

He wouldn't be the first basketball player to jump to the NFL without playing college football. Antonio Gates signed a free agent contract with San Diego Chargers after helping the Kent State basketball team to the Final Eight in 2003.

But Gates made the transition from power forward to tight end. At 6-1, Paulus would be considered undersized for an NFL quarterback.

-- J.P. Giglio

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

That dummy should have played college football from the beginning.

Anonymous said...

Finally a Duke article, too bad the Observer put up a picture of Josh McRoberts....not Greg Paulus...total disrespect...

Anonymous said...

What the heck is going on at the Observer with the mistaken pictures lately? Pathetic...layoffs are no excuse.

Anonymous said...

All white dookies look the same.

Anonymous said...

There is a pretty big difference in going from college football to NFL football.

But college BASKETBALL to NFL FOOTBALL? Lol. I hope for the sake of Paulus' health that he doesn't try to draw a charge the first time a 290 pound defensive end gets into the backfield!

Anonymous said...

Yet again the Observer proves how biased it is towards UNC. I bet Sorenson put this one up.

rob sharpe said...

Why is the article "Paulus works out for Packers?" It seems to me it should be "Eron Riley works out Packers."

Anonymous said...

Can someone in the research department not do a google image search for Greg Paulus? This is pathetic

Anonymous said...

Who is Eron Riley?? Why did he have to settle for a former HS star to help his chances for a NFL career?

Anonymous said...

This will surely make the Packer fans forget about Bret Favre...

James said...

He thinks getting "tea bagged" by Danny Green is bad, wait until a 300# lineman grabs his scrawny azzzz...

Anonymous said...

Picture is changed today. That is the general, Paulus. Coach K did a bad thing when he put Smith in for Paulus. Smith is not a team player. And to the poster who said, " all white Dookies look the same." Isn't it refreshing to see a basketball team without just one race represented!! You have to qualify for Duke academically FIRST. Actually, Paulus is an academic All American.

Anonymous said...

Tar Heel Observer is a joke.

Anonymous said...

Get it straight. National Championship Tarheel Observer bro.

Anonymous said...

Got my Tarheel gear today off Franklin street. Saw a shirt that was sold out in XL that best describes Duke in recent years.

"Choke" (the bottle had it on the label in the picture) "The official drink of Duke Basketball"

Also seems like those UNC sodas will be out soon as well.

LOL!

Anonymous said...

Uhhhhhh what??