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Will Pauling

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Will Pauling
Pauling in 2024
No. 18 – San Francisco 49ers
PositionWide receiver
Roster status
Practice squad
Personal information
Born (2003-03-04) March 4, 2003 (age 23)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Listed height
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Listed weight
183 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High schoolHomewood-Flossmoor (Flossmoor, Illinois)
College
NFL draft2026: undrafted
Career history
* Offseason or practice squad member only
Awards and highlights
Stats at Pro Football Reference

William Pauling (born March 4, 2003) is an American professional football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats, Wisconsin Badgers, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Early life

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Pauling was born in Chicago where he attended high school at Homewood-Flossmoor. Pauling had a breakout junior season where he hauled in 50 receptions for 951 yards and 11 touchdowns.[1] Pauling decided to commit to play college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats.[2][3]

College career

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Cincinnati

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In Pauling's first season in 2021 he hauled in just one reception for six yards versus SMU.[4] In the 2022 season, Pauling brought in 12 receptions for 122 yards.[5] After the conclusion of the 2022 season, Pauling entered the NCAA transfer portal.[6][7]

Wisconsin

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Pauling transferred to play for the Wisconsin Badgers, and his former head coach Luke Fickell.[8][9] In week six of the 2023 season, Pauling hauled in eight receptions for 68 yards in a win over Rutgers.[10] Two weeks later, he recorded his first career touchdown reception as he helped the Badgers comeback and defeat Illinois.[11] In the Badgers bowl game, he had a career performance recording eight receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns.[12] Pauling finished the 2023 season with 74 receptions for 837 yards and six touchdowns, while also rushing for 11 yards and completing one pass for 19 yards.[13] In 2024, during a week three loss against Alabama, Pauling completed nine receptions for 83 yards and one touchdown. He finished the season with 42 receptions for 407 yards and three touchdowns, as well as one carry for four yards.

Notre Dame

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On December 24, 2024, Pauling transferred to Notre Dame. On August 18, 2025, Pauling was named a team captain. In week 7, he caught four receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown in a win over North Carolina State. In a week 10 victory against Boston College, he caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from CJ Carr in the second quarter. After twelve appearances and six starts, Pauling finished the 2025 season with 26 receptions for 381 yards and six touchdowns.

Statistics

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Year Team GP Receiving
RecYdsAvgTD
2021Cincinnati 4166.00
2022Cincinnati 91212210.20
2023Wisconsin 137483711.36
2024Wisconsin 10424079.73
2025Notre Dame 122638114.76
Career481551,75311.315

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jump
5 ft 9+1⁄2 in
(1.77 m)		183 lb
(83 kg)		29+5⁄8 in
(0.75 m)		9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		6 ft 0 in
(1.83 m)		4.48 s1.61 s2.57 s4.35 s7.02 s42.0 in
(1.07 m)		10 ft 8 in
(3.25 m)
All values from Pro Day[14]

Pauling signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2026.[15][16] Pauling was waived by the 49ers as a part of final roster cuts on August 30; he was re–signed to the team's practice squad the next day.[17][18]

References

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  1. ↑ Dermer, Shelby. "UC football lands commitment from 3-star wide receiver Will Pauling". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  2. ↑ Disabato, Pat (April 28, 2020). "H-F's Will Pauling recalls receiving first offer from Cincinnati: 'I ran up to my mom in the stands and started crying on her shoulder.'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  3. ↑ Smith, J.T. (April 23, 2020). "3 star WR Will Pauling makes the Bearcats 10th commit of the 2021 class". The Front Office News. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  4. ↑ P. Funk, David (December 16, 2021). "H-F grad Pauling playing with Cincinnati during historic football season". HF Chronicle. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Will Pauling 2022 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  6. ↑ Rudolph, Justin (January 7, 2023). "Former Cincinnati wide receiver Will Pauling on official visit to Wisconsin". On3.com. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  7. ↑ Smith, J.T. "Bearcats WR Will Pauling enters transfer portal". The Front Office News. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  8. ↑ Potrykus, Jeff. "This transfer receiver from Cincinnati believes he will flourish in Wisconsin's offense under Phil Longo". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  9. ↑ Kocorowski, Jake (January 10, 2023). "Wisconsin lands transfer wide receiver from Cincinnati". Kenosha News. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  10. ↑ Potrykus, Jeff (October 10, 2023). "How Will Pauling has made a seamless transition to become Wisconsin's No. 1 receiving threat". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  11. ↑ Temple, Jesse (November 6, 2023). "Will Pauling emerges for Wisconsin football after being overlooked as a transfer". The Athletic. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  12. ↑ Kenney, Ben (January 1, 2024). "Wisconsin WR Will Pauling entered record books with bowl performance vs LSU". Badgers Wire. USA Today. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Will Pauling 2023 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Will Pauling College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  15. ↑ "49ers Agree to Terms with Undrafted Rookie Free Agents". 49ers.com. April 26, 2026. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  16. ↑ "49ers Sign Six Draft Picks, Seven Undrafted Rookie Free Agents". 49ers.com. May 8, 2026. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  17. ↑ "49ers Announce Moves for Initial 53-Man Roster". 49ers.com. August 30, 2026.
  18. ↑ "49ers Announce Trade for OL Jarrett Patterson". 49ers.com. August 31, 2026.
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