Junior to Watch: Will Paul

Junior to Watch: Will Paul

School: St. Louis (Mo.) Parkway West

Position: Tight End/Defensive End/Fullback

Size and speed: Will Paul is 6-foot-4 and 254 pounds. He has a 40-yard dash time of 4.59 seconds.

Statistics: Will Paul’s statistics have to be categorized into four areas of play.

While playing tight end he ended up with 289 yards on 25 receptions, four touchdowns.

He added another 155 yards on 29 carries and three more touchdowns while playing fullback.

He averaged “about 37 or 38 yards” per punt last season.

On defense he had 60 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and five sacks last season. As a sophomore while playing linebacker, he ended up with 120 tackles (76 being solo tackles).

Honors: He was named first team all-conference for three positions, tight end, defensive end and punter. He made all-metro as a tight end. One publication has him rated as one of the top juniors in the St. Louis area for this coming season.

Favorite Schools: He mentioned the following schools as ones that he would like to visit as of right now:

Kansas (offered) - "We went up there for an unofficial visit. We talked to all of the coaches. They showed us all of their facilities and everything. If I went to Kansas, I probably would not get red-shirted and play early. Kansas is more "

Kansas State (offered) - "Kansas State more needs defensive help. Kansas State is more like a family oriented and religious. I like them both (Kansas and Kansas State), but for different aspects."

Illinois - "Illinois is real nice. I like their campus. We saw a basketball game. All of their coaches are real nice and enthusiastic. They have the mixture of old and new. It fits in real well there."

Florida State - "I always wanted to go to Florida State, as that has been my dream school forever. I have not been getting recruited as much from Florida State, but I'm starting to get recruited more."

His last visit he mentioned either Arkansas or Mississippi State.

Skinny: "I'm pretty open. It is where it suits me the best. Hopefully I will get quite a few Div. 1 offers. I'm going to take my visits and see what suits me the best. I have interest in almost all schools."

Will Paul is loaded with attention from all over the country. He has two offers from both Kansas and Kansas State right now.

He is hearing from “probably 40 to 50” schools, including Kansas State, Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and Texas A&M in the Big 12, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin from the Big 10, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi State in the SEC, Oregon and UCLA from the Pac 10 and among others the following – Florida State, Southern Mississippi, Memphis, Notre Dame, Ball State, Northern Illinois and Drake.

As a freshman in 2000 he attended a summer camp at Nebraska. Last summer he went to Missouri's camp. His other camp visits for this summer are not solidified yet, but he plans on attending the Nike camp at Michigan State in April, the Illinois camp with his high school team. "I might go to Mississippi State, Kansas or Kansas State, as I have gotten an offer from them to (attend camp). I might go to Illinois, Mississippi State and somewhere in the SEC and maybe the Big 10 and Big 12."

Will Paul is being recruited to play three positions in college, tight end, defensive end and fullback.

He has strong points in all of the positions.

As a tight end - "I'm a good blocker. I can catch the ball too. I was our leading receiver, as our team is more of a run oriented, option team than a passing team."

As a defensive end - "Well, I can run down running backs. A lot of people don't expect a defensive end to run down a running back that runs a 4.5 or 4.6 40, but I have open field speed and outside containment. A lot of players would run to the other side and that happened a lot."

What position do you prefer to play in college?

"Honestly, a lot of people ask me that and I just tell them wherever I can help the team the most. I'm more team oriented. I know when I get to college I'm going to have to pick a position. I try to play as many positions as I can to show my ability (to play many positions)."

Kansas State, what position do they want you to play?

"They want me to play defensive end."

How about Kansas?

"Probably tight end more on offense and Oregon as been recruiting me as a fullback."

"I'm pretty open. It is where it suits me the best. Hopefully I will get quite a few Div. 1 offers. I'm going to take my visits and see what suits me the best. I have interest in almost all schools." He wants to play early and get a good education.

Will Paul is a dedicated athlete that is always working harder to get better with his speed and strength.

"We have this program called Acceleration, which works on your speed and vertical jump. It is done with treadmill running and Plyro-meterics. Some of the better athletes go there." The location in Missouri is close to his home.