Redskins receiver Niles Paul entered Nebraska as one of its most important recruits, a home-grown star with major potential. He exited having realized much of that potential, but it was far from a smooth career.
“A lot of things happened to me that never in a million years would I think they would happen,” he said. “It made me mature.”
The biggest news surrounded his arrest for driving under the influence. After a spring practice in 2009, Paul, then 19, joined Nebraska teammates for a night out. He said he had a few drinks and walked home. He said a teammate needed a ride to pick up his car that had been towed. Paul, who said he had not had anything to drink in a couple hours, obliged.
A block from his home on the return trip he was clocked going 53 mph in a 45 mph zone and failed a field sobriety test, according to the police report. He also was charged with driving with a suspended license and being a minor in possession of alcohol.
“I wanted to help one of my teammates,” he said.
“I told Niles, you never drink and drive,” his father Nicki Paul said.
Fourteen months later, he was ticketed for public urination and minor consumption of alcohol.
“That was more disappointing because I had told my dad he wouldn’t have to worry again,” said Paul, a Big 12 second-team All-Academic in 2008. “It was embarrassing. I manned up to my mistake. I called a team meeting and apologized. There are no excuses.”
The coaches weren’t worried, said Ted Gilmore, who was Paul’s receivers coach at Nebraska but now holds the same position at USC.
“He’s not trouble,” Gilmore said. “The [DUI] got national attention, but that young man has no issues.”
Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said, “If you look in detail at what happened, it was a little bit of a mistake. I feel very good about him.”
