• Video: NU's Niles Paul at Big 12 media days:
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DALLAS — Niles Paul hesitated momentarily, presumably searching for internal humility, and smiled back at a curious reporter who had just asked the Nebraska senior to name the Big 12's best receiver.
Paul knew his answer.
But the veteran understands that shouting out self-promoting endorsements more than a month before the opening kickoff isn't the standard approach for players speaking at Big 12 media days. He'd come across cocky, not confident.
Still, the seemingly harmless question obviously tugged at Paul's competitive soul.
He spent the entire offseason transforming the way he views his potential play-making ability and how he develops individual expectations for himself. If he wants to be an elite receiver, Paul figured, he first had to believe that he's talented enough.
So when someone's inquiring about the conference's most lethal pass-catcher, it's hard for Paul to sit still. He knows that he's No. 1.
“It's about confidence,” Paul said. “Confidence makes a great receiver.”
It was missing from Paul's game at times last year, though.
Paul made that exact assessment after in-depth film sessions during the offseason, when he went out of his way to study and critique himself for the first time.
He led Nebraska with 40 receptions and averaged 19.9 yards per catch. He had four 100-yard games and finished with at least four catches in six contests. But something was missing in 2009.
“Sometimes I lacked the confidence needed in certain situations,” he said. “If I'd have been more focused or more confident, I would have made (more plays).”
Paul's working to ensure that's not the case in his final campaign with NU.
He's 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. What he lacks in height, Paul's made up for in the weight room.
And now, Paul said he's gaining an edge by perfecting his position's technical aspects. That's what typically separates the great ones, he said.
“Just being able to do the little things better than anybody else,” Paul said. “Making those outstanding catches. Making the big blocks. Running good routes and not giving away your route while you're running it. Those are the things I've been working on all summer.”
He's done it all under coach Bo Pelini's close watch.
Paul recently pleaded guilty to minor consumption, a charge that stemmed from an incident on May 28. Paul chose to do community service for the conviction. Of course, he also faced an undisclosed level of punishment from Pelini.
But Paul wanted to ensure that he hadn't permanently damaged his relationship with the team. So in early June, days after Paul was ticketed in that alcohol-related incident, the senior leader called a team meeting to apologize.
Roy Helu gave him a hug. So did Prince Amukamara. His teammates forgave him.
Then, they all moved on.
“That's behind us as a football team,” Pelini said Monday. “Niles is a great guy. ... Not only is he doing great things for himself and the football team, but he's a leader.”
The team-wide support was uplifting for Paul, since he wanted to keep his concentration on improving this summer and this fall. He's been able to do that, and he's feeling pretty optimistic because of it.
“I'm focused on the process,” Paul said. “It was a real good summer, a real productive summer.”
Contact the writer:
402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com
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• Video: Pierre Allen at Big 12 media days:
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