Greg Paulus scoffs at anyone who says that kids have a hard time once they get out of college. Paulus, who wrapped up his Duke basketball career as the backup point guard, got a workout from the Green Bay Packers, which was unusual to say the least. But now it looks like he may forstall a professional career for another year in higher education.
He won't be getting a Masters degree, at least not in the conventional sense. Paulus told Dan Patrick that he's been offered a chance to join Michigan's football team and compete for the starting quarterback job.
“There is an opportunity to do that at Michigan,” Paulus said. “There is an opportunity at Michigan to continue my academic education in the graduate program there and compete in football.”
He said he isn't sure what he'll do next, but that he's heard from other college and NFL teams and will explore all his options. Michigan's miserable quarterbacking was the biggest reason they went 3-9 in Rich Rodriguez's first year, and Paulus played in a spread offense in high school. That makes it somewhat plausible, but Michigan has touted incoming freshman Tate Forcier as the real deal and they'd be taking a huge flier on Paulus.
If he's even eligible, that is. It's hard to figure that out, mostly because it doesn't seem like anyone has ever contemplated it happening before. There used to be a rule that allowed college football players an extra year of eligibility if they went to graduate school. The rule also allowed them to transfer to another school and play right away, an opportunity not afforded to traditional transfer students. That rule doesn't exist anymore, though, but it was never designed to cover guys who switched sports.
Let's assume Paulus is eligible, because he hasn't exhausted his five years to play four years of college football. Then he shouldn't be eligible to be drafted into the NFL, as players have to forego their college future to enter the league. Michael David Smith of FanHouse spoke to the NFL which said Paulus is eligible which would technically mean he could be drafted and still go to play for Michigan, or any other school, next season. Usually players who are draft eligible have given up their NCAA eligibility, but Paulus insists that isn't the case.
All of which means..., well, it means your guess is as good as mine. A kid who hasn't played football in four years is now being sought by all kinds of football teams even though no one really knows if he's able to play football at that level.
Sports
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.
