First & 10 with WR Will Pauling
Is there a book that’s had a significant impact on your life??
"The Bible. Over the last year and a half, the biggest thing for me to help me become who I am is my faith. It's been a solid rock for me to go back to and always lean on."
What's the lie you tell yourself most often?
“Being a student-athlete, being a football player and playing on the big stage, I get caught up thinking that I'm just a football player, when in reality I'm bigger than a football player. I'm a teammate, a friend, a brother, a sibling, a son and a child of God. I try to reflect that and show people love.”
What’s your worst habit?
"Procrastinating."
What's your favorite thing about you?
“I love that I can just be a light. I feel like I bring a lot of joy to everybody’s day and I just love being a high-energy guy and being that guy people can lean on when they’re feeling down and they need a laugh or some words of encouragement. I’m big on being there for my brothers.”
What's the personality trait you're most proud of?
"I’m a pretty optimistic person, an upbeat person. I kind of feel like I’m that guy in the locker room that can remind guys to just be themselves. Go out and have fun. This is a game we’ve been playing for as long as we can remember. Don’t make it bigger than it is. I’m just there to lift spirits up."
Is there a class you'd take again?
"Quincy Burroughs and I took an introduction to theatre class. Obviously, we’re not theatre majors, but the class had a lot of people that were interested in theatre and dramatic literature. Some of the students got up to act on stage, which was pretty exciting to see. We had to read different stuff by Shakespeare. Quincy and I love to show our characters off, so we got into it a little bit extra, performing those things in class. That’s a class I’d take again."
What's the biggest favor you've done for someone?
"Something I love to do is pray for people. Just let them know that I’m there for them. I’m talking to God, hoping that God gives them peace in whatever’s going on in their
life."
What do you like most about UW?
“The people. The brotherhood we have in the locker room is second to none. I’ve got guys that I’ve met that will be in my wedding, meet my kids and hold my kids when they’re born. But outside of the locker room, you get to Madison and these people really care about their Badgers. If I’ve got a Badger shirt on, people are doing the most random acts of kindness toward me. At first, it was a little bit weird. ‘Why are you being so nice to me?’ But when you’re here for months and months and you’re seeing the same things over and over, there are not too many places like Madison. Just the care they have and the support they give.”
A new teammate you've come to admire?
“Gideon Ituka. He came in as an early enrollee and was challenged a lot in the weight room. They challenged him to lose a little bit of weight. He struggled at first, but he
never batted an eye. He attacked everything he’s supposed to. He’s been doing everything how he’s supposed to be doing it. The biggest thing that stood out to me was he asks for a lot of advice. A lot of times, young guys are timid, especially with the older guys, but he’s been asking me stuff all the time. ‘Will, what can I do?’ He brings life to every room that he’s in. He’s going to make whoever it is smile. He brightens up my day. I love how he’s been handling everything.”
Is there a friend you consider family?
“Quincy Burroughs."
