Greg Paulus from College Basketball Player to Starting Quarterback for the Syracuse Orangemen

Greg Paulus former point guard for the Duke Blue Devils has been named the starting quarterback for the Syracuse Orangeman college football team. Paulus graduated from Duke this past fall and was looking at his options either tries to get drafted in the NBA draft, play basketball overseas or pursue a passion that he always had inside in being a college football quarterback. Paulus enrolled into a graduate program therefore earning an extra year of collegiate eligibility thus enrolling at Syracuse University in his hometown. Greg Paulus was a highly recruited quarterback coming out of high school, but he instead chose basketball over football.

Greg Paulus hasn't played football in over four years and has beat out freshman Ryan Nassib and senior Cam Dantley last year's starting quarterback in less than a week of practice with the Orangemen. According to head coach Doug Marrone, Greg Paulus has the natural instincts in calling plays and checking people off at the line.

We all know Greg Paulus excelled at his collegiate basketball career for the Duke Blue Devils and even accepted a bench role his senior year without complaining. Paulus earned the starting nod at quarterback, but it will be interesting to see if he can hold onto the job once the Big East conference play gets started. Paulus has never taken a snap under center in college, but he has the reigns of leading the Orangemen onto the playing field once they play Minnesota on September 5, 2009.

Syracuse Orangemen need all the help they can get to produce a winning season that hasn't happened for awhile in Syracuse, New York. At least having a former college basketball now quarterbacking a college football game should be interesting and exciting at the same time.

Paulus had a rifle of an arm in high school and produce gaudy passing numbers. However, his other passion of basketball provided him a full ride to Duke putting "what ifs" to rest. Now everyone will get that chance to see Greg Paulus as a college quarterback and the grueling punishment defenses will be out to sack him. Paulus should be a good drop back passing quarterback based on the skills he obtained from playing defense in college basketball.

Syracuse will be looking to improve on their football season and will have a new leader in charge at least temporary until he messes up and opens the door for Nassib or Dantley to get their shot. However, those two quarterbacks may be waiting awhile since Paulus has never accepted failure.

Source:

ESPN