Tider Insider's
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POST-SIGNING INTERVIEW
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| What do you call a HS football prospect who's 6'4, 240
and runs at least a 4.6 40? The recruiting experts usually refer to such
a prospect as a "blue-chipper."
But that's not what the "experts" are calling Larry Paul. They refer to Larry as a "sleeper." That's an insult to a player with Larry's size, speed and athletic ability. Well, it's time for the "experts" to wake-up, because Larry Paul is definitely a "blue-chip" prospect. We spoke with Larry on February 16. |
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| TI | Larry, most people who follow recruiting refer to you as a "sleeper." Considering your size, speed, and accomplishments on the field during your HS career, how does that make you feel? |
| LP | It motivates me a lot. It makes me hit the weights harder. It makes me run harder. It doesn't upset me, but it does make me want to show these people that Larry Paul is a hoss of a football player. |
| TI | What about the story that some schools, like Auburn, backed off because you're too short? |
| LP | [Laughing] No way! The only reason Auburn or anyone else backed off was because I told them I was going to Alabama. |
| TI | In fact we understand from your HS coach, Wes Simpson, that you actually turned away several big-time schools. |
| LP | Notre Dame, Florida, Tennessee. They all recruited me. They wanted me to visit. But I knew I wasn't going to any of those places. I knew it would be either Alabama or Auburn, so I just told the other schools I wasn't interested. |
| TI | So, was it a tough decision between Alabama and Auburn? |
| LP | It was a hard decision, but Alabama is the place for me. It's closer to home. It's an excellent program and I think I can play early. Plus, NFL wise Alabama can really help me. Look at Dwayne Rudd. He was at Alabama for two years and he was already an All-American. It's just a great place to play defense. |
| TI | We've heard that you were really impressed when coach DuBose came to see you the day after he was named head coach. |
| LP | That really left a big impression on me. Coach DuBose came down and watched me play basketball that night. He walked into the gym and people were all over him wanting autographs. |
| TI | Coach Simpson told us that you had three dunks in the first two minutes of the game that night. Were you a little pumped knowing that coach DuBose was watching? |
| LP | I wasn't sure he was there on the first two dunks. But on the third one, I got up a little higher because I knew he was there. I was really excited. |
| TI | Larry, you've been one of the more difficult players to get in touch with this year. Every time we call your home, you are working. [Larry works about 30 hours a week at Hardee's.] I bet they will sure miss you at Hardee's next year. |
| LP | I don't think so. My brother is going to take my place. He'll make them forget about me. |
| TI | Does your brother play football at Moody? |
| LP | Yes sir. He's was a sophomore this year. The Alabama and Auburn coaches already like him a lot. He's a 6'6, 220 pound tight end. He can run pretty good too. [It sounds as though Larry's brother, Peter, will be a "blue-chipper" himself in a couple of years.] |
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