DePaola catching, instead of throwing

Andrew DePaola knew little of the wide receiver position before Rutgers coach Greg Schiano approached him before spring break.

So when Schiano asked DePaola if he'd be willing to make the switch from quarterback, where he was fifth-string on the depth chart, DePaola was only too eager to do so.

"I told him, "Anything to help the team,' " said DePaola, a junior walk-on from Maryland. "I'm a big team player and if playing wide receiver helps us win, then yeah, I can do it."

The way DePaola figured it, snaring passes rather than throwing them may offer more opportunities for playing time — not that DePaola doesn't see the field enough already.

The holder on field goal and extra point placements, DePaola is best remembered for throwing the game-winning touchdown off a fake field goal in Rutgers' 30-27 win over South Florida last October.

"I don't even think he understands what that play really was," Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel said of the play in which DePaola grabbed the snap, rolled right out of the pocket and found tight end Kevin Brock for a 15-yard TD. "In front of 44,000 on national TV, I don't think it even phased him. He just went out and did what the coaches asked him to do. It was pretty amazing, really."

Amazing would be one word to describe his move to receiver this spring. Considering his only pass-catching experience was the occasional pickup game growing up, DePaola's seamless transition has been remarkable.

"He's made some plays," Schiano said of the 6-foot-2, 200 pounder. "Now, he's not going to be the fastest guy in the world but he doesn't get shook up much. He's a loyal guy who has ice water in his veins."

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