Jesuit’s Paulsen signs with Stetson

Posted Feb 29, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Feb 29, 2012 at 05:17 PM

His senior football season didn’t turn out exactly how he envisioned it, but Jesuit’s Aaron Paulsen is not done in the sport.

The versatile Tigers athlete has signed with Stetson University, which is restarting its football program in 2013 after a 57-year hiatus. That should work out particularly well for Paulsen, who tore his ACL in the third game of the season and has been working hard ever since his surgery to rehabilitate the injured knee.

“I’m really looking forward to being part of their program,” said the 5-foot-10, 165-pound Paulsen. “The facilities are going to be great—they’ve put about $3.5 million into it and they’ve gotten a lot of help from the city (DeLand). It’s going to be amazing when it’s done.”

Paulsen, who has an unweighted grade point average of 3.4, said he expects most of his tuition costs at Stetson to be covered through academic aid. Stetson will be a member of the non-scholarship Pioneer League. Paulsen said he has been recruited as an athlete by Stetson coach Roger Hughes and will likely play slot receiver.

At Jesuit, Paulsen started the 2011 campaign at quarterback and moved to receiver once Tommy Eveld became the starter.

Paulsen’s season ended when he tore his ACL during the first half of action against Robinson, but underwent successful allograft surgery on the knee. Since incoming Stetson players will be redshirted this fall, Paulsen said the additional year prior to the start of the Hatters’ first season of football since 1956 should work to his advantage.

Photo: Jesuit receiver Aaron Paulsen is sandwiched by Plant’s Keenan Stalls, left, and Drew Madhu in second-half action Friday at Dad’s Stadium. Photo by Bill Ward/The Tampa Tribune.