Paulus pondering his future

DURHAM — Greg Paulus doesn't know what he's going to do next.

Since his basketball career ended three weeks ago, the Duke senior has worked out for the Green Bay Packers and been offered a football scholarship from the University of Michigan.

"I've got to do my homework," Paulus said Thursday. "These are really exciting opportunities, something you dream about having the chance to do."

In a down cycle for college sports, Paulus' future has turned into a 24-hour news phenomenon. Six different ESPN shows called Duke on Thursday trying to connect with Paulus. He met with the media at Cameron Indoor Stadium — a familiar setting for the three-year starter on Mike Krzyzewski's basketball team — on Thursday.

"I'm surprised by the attention," Paulus said. "I'm thankful for it."

Paulus said he received an offer from Michigan after visiting the campus on Tuesday but he does not have a timetable for his next step.

He said other NFL teams have inquired about a workout and there other interested Division I programs, including hometown Syracuse, according to ESPN. He also said playing basketball professionally, in Europe or elsewhere, was another option.

Paulus' decision might be determined by the NCAA, which would have to grant him a waiver to be eligible to play at another Division I football program. (He declined an offer from Duke football coach David Cutcliffe to play receiver for the Blue Devils in 2009.)

The NCAA does grant waivers for academic reasons, such as the availability of a graduate program.

"There are rules and they are extensive," Paulus said. "We're going through each situation and want to make sure we're following the NCAA rules."

Coming out of high school, Paulus was considered one of the best quarterbacks in his recruiting class. He led Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, N.Y. to a state title as a senior and set the state record with 11,763 passing yards. He finished his high school career with 152 touchdown passes and a 42-3 record.

In Oct. 2005, Paulus called playing point guard for Krzyzewski a full-time job and declined to pursue the opportunity to play both sports at Duke. Paulus did offer a hint of his future, though, when asked before his freshman basketball season if he would ever play college football.

"I'm not going to be [Michael] Jordan and say 100 percent," Paulus said at the time. "Then everyone's going to call that guy a liar."

The last time Paulus took live snap was at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio in Jan. 2005. He was one of the quarterbacks for the East team, which lost 35-3. He completed 8-of-22 passes for 63 yards. Mark Sanchez, the Southern California quarterback expected to go early in the first round of the NFL Draft later this month, was on the West roster.

Miller Safrit, Scout.com's national editor, scouted Paulus at the All-American game in San Antonio. Safrit's recruiting site rated Paulus the ninth-best quarterback in the class of 2005.

"He was up there for a reason," Safrit said. "He wasn't going to wow you with a 70-yard pass and he wasn't the guy you brought off the bus first to scare the other team but he was a good football player."

Safrit said Ohio State, Miami and USC were among the major football programs that pursued Paulus out of high school. Paulus' smarts were his best attribute, Safrit said.

"When they went into game action or scrimmages, you saw a decisive quarterback and someone who could read defenses as well as anybody," Safrit said.

But with four years in between snaps, Safrit doesn't know what to expect from Paulus, besides rust.

"That's tough," Safrit said. "There's so much that goes into the quarterback position. He has to learn an entire an offense and make the adjustment to the talent level and speed of the game."

Paulus, who'll graduate with a political science degree from Duke next month, understands what he's up against if he gets back on the football field.

"I love challenges," he said. "Whatever happens it will be the best thing."