By Tim Farrell
The Blue Devils have numerous weapons at their disposal on this year’s football team, including one modest wide receiver, Josue Paul.
This junior has been coming up big for CCSU in clutch situations, always making the “Big Play.”
“I’m a play maker, I like the ball in my hands,” said Paul.
However, when you take a look at his statistics this season, that conclusion is hard to come to. Twenty-six receptions, 317 yards, and 2 touchdowns; these aren’t really numbers that jump off the page for a leading receiver on a 5-1 college football team.
Then again, numbers aren’t everything. In the game against Duquesne, he had arguably the best game of his college career, amassing 142 yards on 8 catches, including a 64-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Hunter Wanket. To accompany his receiving totals, the 6 foot 1 Paul also returned 4 kickoffs for a total of 70 yards, as well as picking up 10 yards on a running play.
And in his past, odds are that whatever the teams asks of him, he’s going to put on a show while he does it. In addition to the Duquesne game, Paul returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown against the Colonials of Robert Morris, capitalizing on his explosiveness.
There is no question that the Blue Devils have become a deadly force on the ground since Head Coach Jeff McInerney joined the staff. In 2007 and 2008, CCSU had nearly twice as many rushing yards as they did passing, limiting the abilities of its wide receivers, forcing them to excel at other aspects of the game. Paul has been one of those suffering receivers, but it hasn’t slowed him down.
“I mean, if we come up with the win, I’m always happy with that,” said Paul. “But when you’re a play maker like me, you want the ball in your hands.”
CCSU has had problems this season scoring in the first half. In fact, they have been trailing in the first half in 5 of their last 6 games, yet they have still gone 6-1 on the season, and have won their last 5 games in a row. Paul is not especially bothered by that fact, and neither is coach McInerney.
“Coach has never really been stressed [about trailing at halftime],” said Paul. “I mean he realizes we just need to calm down.”
Paul and his teammates have been dealing with issues other than the wars waged on the football field. He remarked on the traveling to away games.
“On the road it’s so long, it’s stressful,” said Paul. The Blue Devils have played 5 of their 7 games this year on the road. “The whole team has ‘bus legs,’ you know, our legs are just tight.” Despite “bus legs,” the Blue Devils have gone 4-1 on the road.
The Blue Devils have a real shot at making the Division I-FCS playoffs, as well as the Gridiron Classic game coming up at the end of the regular season, and Paul seems to agree. He was part of two solid seasons; back in 2007 the team went 6-5 (4-3) and in 2008 they had a record of 7-4 (4-3), but this one seems to be the strongest in recent memory.
“This is the best team I’ve been on as far as leadership and everything goes,” said Paul. “This year, I feel like we’ve got to win it. If we’re not going to win it now, then who knows when.”
The Blue Devils know how to win a ball game, and players like Paul make it easy. His skills at receiving, returning and special teams have really made him a standout player this season, and he will continue to make that “big play” whenever his number is called. Opponents would be wise to start taking notice of this junior on the field, because he wears the number 5, but plays like a number 1.
