Homewood-Flosssmoor’s Will Pauling was flattered by all the recruiting attention.
The junior receiver counted Syracuse, Kent State, Bowling Green and Air Force among 14 Division I offers.
Still, it was his first offer — in June 2019 from Cincinnati — that made the biggest impact.
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It was life-changing.
“They offered me at a satellite camp at North Central College,” Pauling said of Cincinnati. “I got super emotional. I broke down right there and gave (receivers) coach (Mike) Brown a hug.
“I ran up to my mom in the stands and started crying on her shoulder. I was so blessed and excited.”
That excitement continued during each step of the recruiting trail over the ensuing 10 months, but Pauling’s heart and mind always turned back to the Bearcats.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior has verbally committed to Cincinnati. Rivals.com and 247Sports.com both rank Pauling as a three-star recruit.
“They were the first school to take a chance on me and believed in me,” he said. “I was able to build a relationship with the coaching staff that’s more than just football.
“I talk to coach Brown almost every day. We talk about Netflix shows, food and life. There’s a mutual confidence and trust between us.”
Pauling also liked the vibe on campus in February when he visited.
“I met some of the players and the professors,” he said. “I was impressed. It just felt right.”
Pauling had a breakout season in 2019. He finished with 50 catches for 951 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also rushed for 164 yards and two TDs on 21 carries.
While Pauling is a bit undersized for a Division I receiver, he makes up for his lack of height with speed, elusiveness and a relentless drive to succeed.
He has been timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.49 seconds and in the 60-yard dash in 6.4 seconds.
Pauling can fly, and he makes big things happen after the catch. He also has no fear of running pass patterns in the middle of the field.
In fact, he said, “bring it on.”
“I have no trouble going over the middle,” he said. “I’m very sure-handed.”
Pauling attributes his ability to haul in passes from playing baseball.
He was disappointed the coronavirus pandemic denied him a chance to play a full baseball season, which he had planned to be his last.
Pauling intends to graduate in December and enroll next spring at Cincinnati.
“It’s a bummer not playing this spring, which is why it’s tempting to stick around and play baseball next year,” Pauling said. “At the same time, I want to get to UC and earn a better chance to get playing time.”
Whenever Pauling arrives on campus, H-F coach Craig Buzea said the Bearcats are getting a special player and person.
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“Will is an awesome kid,” Buzea said. “He’s as good a kid as I’ve ever coached. He’s an exceptional athlete, but his knowledge of the game is what sets him apart. He’s got the Michael Jordan effect.
“By that, I mean he makes everybody else on the field better and is a selfless player. He doesn’t care about stats. He just wants to win and will do anything to do so and sacrifice his personal gain for the betterment of the team.”