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Link: Highlights of New Notre Dame WR Will Pauling
My youngest is at UW, so I went to and watched a lot of their games this year and last. Pauling struck me, just as a layman observer, as a guy who never reached his potential this year. But they also had a qb who struggled to throw a good ball. Maybe he’ll shine if we have a better passer - hope so.
When he was on, he was good, but definitely has a down year. He struggled with two quarterbacks.
I wouldn't put the bulk of the blame on Pauling. He was actually a good WR1 in 2023, back when Tanner Mordecai had been the QB. This year's QB tandem of Braedyn Locke and Tyler Van Dyke hasn't exactly been stellar.
I would compare his situation to what Equanimeous St. Brown had to deal with in 2017. Back in 2016, with Deshone Kizer as his QB, he came close to having a 1000 yard season. In 2017, with Brandon Wimbush as the QB, he nearly got his neck broken several times.
Had St. Brown stayed for the 2018 season with Book at the helm, I would have bet dollars to dimes that he would have had a very fine season.
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He's the closest thing we have to a WR1, and leads all receivers in receptions and yardage.
If he puts out production similar to what Collins did this year, then it will be a good thing. I suspect he'll do better, though.
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with what was said above about Pauling dropping more passes than he should have.....if you watched all ND games his year, Collins fits that comment - he did have his more than fair share of dropped passes that were right in his hands. Never said he didn't help contribute to ND's success this season.
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We already have lots of capable slot receivers.
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