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DEL.ICIO.USLassoed in: Walton’s Paulsen commits to Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Sophomore fullback Bryant Ward rumbled in for a 1-yard touchdown in the first quarter of No. 8 Oklahoma State’s 59-17 rout of Iowa State Saturday in Stillwater. It was the first score of the game, and Ward’s first score of the season.
It’s a role Walton’s David Paulsen hopes to expand next season. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound fullback committed to the Cowboys on Sunday while on an official visit to the Oklahoma State campus.
“The coaches joked with me that they gave him [Ward] the ball just so I could see the fullback score,” Paulsen said. “The place was perfect. The facilities, the people, the atmosphere around the campus. It was perfect.”
Paulsen plays on both sides of the ball for the Raiders, but he’ll only focus on offense at Oklahoma State. The coaching staff, including head coach Mike Gundy, liked Paulsen’s versatility and said that he would be used in a variety of offensive packages for the Cowboys as an H-back, fullback, pass-catching tight end and occasionally in the slot.
It wasn’t difficult for Paulsen to believe. Oklahoma State is seventh nationally in total offense and fifth in scoring offense. But the Walton senior didn’t need to see statistics to feel comfortable with Gundy and his staff.
“I heard before going out there that the people were great, and that really was it,” Paulsen said. “The facilities and all that are incredible. They’re some of the best in the country, but I really liked all the coaches, the players, the entire staff.”
Paulsen took in the game with his parents, spent time with Cowboy players, had lunch with his future position coach and then lunch with Gundy and the offensive coaches on Sunday. It was then that he delivered his decision.
“They were very happy, and I was too,” Paulsen said. “I don’t feel like I’m settling for anything. Sometimes you’ll see a place and think that you can live with certain things. That didn’t happen there. I loved everything.”
The Oklahoma State commitment is a member of the AJC’s The Georgia 150. He had previously visited Tulane and Miami (Ohio).
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By Paddy
November 3, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this
Congrats, love your enthusiasm for your new school.