Upon entering the NCAA transfer portal in December, one of the first schools to contact Texas A&M receiver/kick returner Roshauud Paul was Arkansas State.
“Yeah, Ethan Morris was probably the first person I followed,” said Paul, who announced his commitment to Arkansas State on Friday. He will have two season to play with the Red Wolves.
Morris, the Red Wolves’ grad assistant who works as the assistant safeties coach, is a Texan and although not one of his duties he keeps track of Texas players in the portal.
“I remembered he was 47-0 as a starter and won three state titles,” he said.
Paul is the third member of the 2021 class, along with quarterback Wyatt Begeal of Cibolo (Texas) Steele and Little Rock Central offensive lineman Makilan Thomas.
As a quarterback at Bremond, a Class 2A school near College Station, Paul was one of the most dominant players in state history, never losing a game as a starting quarterback.
Paul left Bremond as one of the most dynamic and successful players in the history of Texas high school football. He led the Tigers to three straight state championships as a quarterback and finished 47-0 as a starter. He was named the AP Class 2A Offensive Player of the Year.
Paul committed to TCU in early 2015 but his star began to rise as his exploits began to become legend and he eventually compiled offers from A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Texas. He chose the Aggies not long after their March 2016 offer.
Paul had more than 13,000 yards of total offense and 71 touchdowns in his career and also had 181 tackles and 11 interceptions on defense.
From high school he had a three-star rating.
“It was just a good fit for me,” said Paul. “I was looking for a place to play and they need receivers. It does not hurt that they have two very good quarterbacks. Obviously, that played a role. I just want to get the ball more.”
Friends with former A-State wide receiver Kirk Merritt, Paul played in the first four games last season before redshirting with freshman Ainias Smith taking his place as the team’s starting punt returner. Paul caught one pass for 11 yards and returned a two punts for 13 yards in the season-opening win over Texas State and had 107 yards on four punt returns, including a 41-yarder, versus Lamar.
“I talked to Kirk, who played here at A&M, and he had a lot of good things to say,” he said.
Paul could see time as the slot receiver spot vacated by Merritt or could play at outside receiver.
“It doesn’t really matter to me,” he said.
As a sophomore, Paul was also the team’s punt returner and returned 24 punts for 209 yards which ranked third in the Southeastern Conference. He had four kickoff returns for 67 yards and six receptions for 70 yards on offense. He was given the Special Teams Most Improved Award at the teams annual banquet.
As a freshman, he had 16 catches for 187 yards.
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