Standout Wide Receiver Emerging For Wisconsin Football in Spring Practice

Madison, Wis. — One of the lesser known offseason additions, wide receiver Will Pauling, was the first Cincinnati Bearcat to follow Luke Fickell to the Wisconsin football program via the transfer portal. 

New Beginnings!! #OnWisconsin 🦡 pic.twitter.com/I7xyfq8UEi

— Will Pauling⚡️ (@Will_Paul6) January 11, 2023

He may not have come to Madison with the same fanfare as other transfers, but anyone following the Badgers during spring practice knows he is quickly making a name for himself in a room featuring 12 scholarship WRs.

The 5-foot-10, 186-pound WR appeared in nine games at Cincinnati this past season, played 92 snaps, saw 23 targets, and caught 12 passes for 122 yards (9.8 Y/REC) with a 13.7 ADOT.

His numbers, however, would have undoubtedly been much better if Pauling didn’t suffer a grade 3 MCL tear in his right knee that forced him to miss four games.

Will Pauling is Making Himself Right at Home 

Now, the redshirt sophomore is fully healthy and quickly becoming a favorite target of Wisconsin football quarterbacks. Will Pauling has earned reps as the No. 1 slot receiver, nudging out Skyler Bell from the first-team offense. It’s also worth noting that he’s spent some time with the 1’s on the boundary, showing off his versatility as a pass-catcher.

“Will has got obviously some natural skills,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell told UW reporters. “But I think he’s really quick. He’s a strong kid. He’s not just a slot receiver–he’s a guy that can be dynamic in a lot of different spots. I think, for the most part, he’s just well-rounded. He’s a really smart, tough football player that I think has got a really bright future.”

A beauty pic.twitter.com/EsJM2QB9LW

— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) April 18, 2023

UW intends to play up to six wideouts per game during the season so they can play up-tempo and keep guys fresh. Pauling, a prototypical slot WR offers a unique skill set that should make him a real weapon for the Badgers this fall.

The Illinois native has a good burst off the line, can stop and go on a dime, is a good route runner, wins one-on-one matchups by consistently creating separation, and tracks the ball well. Pauling is the type of player that might get a ton of targets in Phil Longo’s air raid offense.

It’s noteworthy how quickly Will Pauling has ascended and made a name for himself since joining the Wisconsin football program and appears to be a potential steal in the transfer portal.

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