Will Pauling
{{Short description|American football player (born 2003)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox college football player
|name=Will Pauling
|image=Forever Badgers Brunch (54155272061) (Will Pauling).jpg
|caption=Pauling in 2024
|school= Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|currentnumber=2
|currentposition=Wide receiver
|class={{redshirt}} Senior
|major=
|birth_date={{birth date and age|2003|3|4}}
|birth_place=Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
|heightft=5
|heightin=10
|weight_lb=190
|highlights=
- Third-team All-Big Ten (2023)
|bowlgames=
|highschool=Homewood-Flossmoor (Flossmoor, Illinois)
|pastschools=
- Cincinnati (2021–2022)
- Wisconsin (2023–2024)
- Notre Dame (2025–present)
|espn=4683114
}}
William Pauling (born March 4, 2003) is an American college football wide receiver for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He previously played for the Cincinnati Bearcats and Wisconsin Badgers.
Early life and high school
Pauling was born in Chicago where he attended high school at Homewood-Flossmoor. Pauling had a breakout junior season where he hauled in 50 receptions for 951 yards and 11 touchdowns.{{cite web |last1=Dermer |first1=Shelby |title=UC football lands commitment from 3-star wide receiver Will Pauling |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2020/04/23/cincinnati-bearcats-football-recruiting-wr-pauling-commits/3015813001/ |website=Cincinnati Enquirer |access-date=5 January 2024}} Pauling decided to commit to play college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats.{{cite web |last1=Disabato |first1=Pat |title=H-F’s Will Pauling recalls receiving first offer from Cincinnati: ‘I ran up to my mom in the stands and started crying on her shoulder.’ |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/sports/ct-sta-spt-football-hf-will-pauling-st-042920-20200428-u2ibfngjjjbi7bjl3aabbfu22a-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=5 January 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=J.T. |title=3 star WR Will Pauling makes the Bearcats 10th commit of the 2021 class |url=https://thefrontofficenews.com/v2/2020/04/23/3-star-wr-will-pauling-makes-the-bearcats-10th-commit-of-the-2021-class/ |website=The Front Office News |access-date=5 January 2024}}
College career
= Cincinnati =
In Pauling's first season in 2021 he hauled in just one reception for six yards versus SMU.{{cite web |last1=P. Funk |first1=David |title=H-F grad Pauling playing with Cincinnati during historic football season |url=https://www.hfchronicle.com/2021/12/16/h-f-grad-pauling-playing-cincinnati-during-historic-football-season/ |website=HF Chronicle |access-date=5 January 2024}} In the 2022 season, Pauling brought in 12 receptions for 122 yards.{{cite web |title=Will Pauling 2022 Game Logs |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/will-pauling-1/gamelog/2022/ |website=Sports Reference |access-date=5 January 2024}} After the conclusion of the 2022 season, Pauling entered the NCAA transfer portal.{{cite web |last1=Rudolph |first1=Justin |title=Former Cincinnati wide receiver Will Pauling on official visit to Wisconsin |url=https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/news/former-cincinnati-wide-receiver-will-pauling-on-official-visit-to-wisconsin/ |website=On3.com |access-date=5 January 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=J.T. |title=Bearcats WR Will Pauling enters transfer portal |url=https://thefrontofficenews.com/v2/2022/12/20/bearcats-wr-will-pauling-enters-transfer-portal/ |website=The Front Office News |access-date=5 January 2024}}
= Wisconsin =
Pauling transferred to play for the Wisconsin Badgers, and his former head coach Luke Fickell.{{cite web |last1=Potrykus |first1=Jeff |title=This transfer receiver from Cincinnati believes he will flourish in Wisconsin's offense under Phil Longo |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2023/08/10/wisconsin-badgers-football-transfer-will-pauling-a-good-fit-at-slot-receiver/70563167007/ |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |access-date=5 January 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Kocorowski |first1=Jake |title=Wisconsin lands transfer wide receiver from Cincinnati |url=https://kenoshanews.com/sports/article_2fc0247e-24af-5c56-886b-74fb13a4491b.html |website=Kenosha News |access-date=5 January 2024}} In week six of the 2023 season, Pauling hauled in eight receptions for 68 yards in a win over Rutgers.{{cite web |last1=Potrykus |first1=Jeff |title=How Will Pauling has made a seamless transition to become Wisconsin's No. 1 receiving threat |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2023/10/10/wisconsin-receiver-will-pauling-is-no-1-target-for-tanner-mordecai/71125874007/ |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |access-date=5 January 2024}} Two weeks later, he recorded his first career touchdown reception as he helped the Badgers comeback and defeat Illinois.{{cite web |last1=Temple |first1=Jesse |title=Will Pauling emerges for Wisconsin football after being overlooked as a transfer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5014645/2023/10/31/will-pauling-wisconsin-football/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=5 January 2024}} In the Badgers bowl game, he had a career performance recording eight receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns.{{cite web |last1=Kenney |first1=Ben |title=Wisconsin WR Will Pauling entered record books with bowl performance vs LSU |url=https://badgerswire.usatoday.com/2024/01/01/wisconsin-wr-will-pauling-entered-record-books-with-bowl-performance-vs-lsu/ |website=Badgers Wire |access-date=5 January 2024}} Pauling finished the 2023 season with 74 receptions for 837 yards and six touchdowns, while also rushing for 11 yards and completing one pass for 19 yards.{{cite web |title=Will Pauling 2023 Game Logs |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/will-pauling-1/gamelog/2023/ |website=Sports Reference |access-date=5 January 2024}}
= Notre Dame =
On December 24, 2024, Pauling transferred to Notre Dame.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://gobearcats.com/sports/football/roster/will-pauling/10843 Cincinnati Bearcats bio]
- [https://uwbadgers.com/sports/football/roster/will-pauling/12032 Wisconsin Badgers bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pauling, Will}}
Category:Players of American football from Chicago
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Homewood-Flossmoor High School alumni
Category:Cincinnati Bearcats football players