Before Greg Paulus took in a football practice at the University of Michigan Tuesday, he had discussions with Duke head coach David Cutcliffe about using a fifth year of NCAA eligibility to play for the Blue Devils, Cutcliffe said Wednesday in the ACC spring teleconference.
Last week, Cutcliffe told Paulus, the 2005 Gatorade National Player of the Year in football, that there wouldn't be room for him on the quarterback depth chart, but invited him to the team's last six spring practices to try out for other positions. The Blue Devil point guard decided to explore other options and won't play for Duke next year, Sports Information Director Art Chase said.
"He's a quarterback at heart, but there was no way he was going to be able to compete and play quarterback for us," said Cutcliffe, who was impressed with Paulus' passion and saw him as a potential slot receiver. "I think that was the deciding factor.... It's difficult, when you haven't been playing quarterback in a long time, to step back into a pro-style offense and have any chance to play."
Paulus visited Ann Arbor, Mich. to talk with Wolverines head coach Rich Rodriguez about playing in Michigan's spread offense, Chase confirmed Wednesday. Paulus also worked out for the Green Bay Packers last Thursday in preparation for the NFL Draft April 25.
Paulus has another year of eligibility to play a sport other than basketball. He would play this fall, barring any unforeseen circumstances and assuming the NCAA grants him the necessary waiver.
In high school, Paulus led a spread, but it was more focused on the pass than the run, unlike Michigan's. The Wolverines' quarterback situation is tenuous, with two true freshmen competing with a junior sidelined with a fractured leg.
Paulus' high school coach, Joe Casamento, told ESPN that he wasn't sure Paulus was well-suited to the Michigan offense, but Cutcliffe felt he could fit in.
"They've had quarterback issues, and certainly that offense would be more friendly to a more athletic-type quarterback," he said.
Even without Paulus, the Blue Devils have a logjam at quarterback. Senior Thaddeus Lewis, an All-ACC quarterback last season, is on pace to be a four-year starter, and he has a capable backup in redshirt freshman Sean Renfree, a four-star recruit coming out of high school. Incoming freshman Sean Schroeder figures to be the third-string playcaller.
FOX Sports reported Tuesday that a half-dozen NFL teams had shown interest in Paulus, but Chase said he was not aware of any teams that had called Duke to set up workouts.
Duke called a press conference for Paulus to answer questions Thursday morning. Team spokesman Matt Plizga told The Chronicle that Paulus will not be making any sort of announcement about his plans.
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