Paulsen, from Central Dewitt (Iowa), chose the Illini over a handful of other suitors, including four Big Ten rivals
Nov 1, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema greets fans before an NCAA game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Memorial Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images | Ron Johnson-Imagn ImagesI am officially committed to the University of Illinois! Thank you to my family, friends, coaches, teammates, and everyone who has helped me along the way. I’m grateful for the support that got me here. Coach Bret Bielema is just getting started filling up his 2027 class, but it appears to be shaping up as the best class of his tenure in Champaign.
All seven of Illinois' commits are three-star prospects, per 247Sports. Paulsen is a 6-foot-4, 230-pound edge from Central Dewitt who ultimately picked the Illini over a handful of other suitors, including four Big Ten programs: Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern and Wisconsin. As a junior last year, Paulsen finished with 40 tackles , five sacks and a forced fumble to help lead his team to the postseason.
Paulsen is ready to enter his senior season as the 14th-ranked player in the state of Iowa and the 92nd-ranked edge in the country, per 247Sports. Paulsen lined up mostly over left tackle last year, utilizing both a two-point and three-point stance. He arguably performed better without his hand in the ground, but in any case, his lightning-quick get-off stands out most on tape.
Paulsen would likely slot as a defensive end in a defense featuring a traditional four-man front, but Illinois is moving to a 3-3-5 defense under new defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck. It's just as likely that Paulsen could feature at outside linebacker for Illinois – or at least serve in a sort of hybrid role. He has the physical traits and speed to deliver as a second-level defender.
His go-to technique is a swim move that he has proven he can win with consistently, regardless of his alignment. Paulsen will need to add another move to set himself apart as a pass rusher, but he is an intriguing prospect. It's a tricky proposition because of the uncertainty of his position, but the good news is Illinois has plenty of time to figure that out.
The Illini added a number of defensive linemen via the portal, though it isn't clear how their backgrounds will translate to Big Ten competition. Although Gabe Jacas was lost to the NFL in the offseason, Illinois' projected starters at outside linebacker – James Kreutz and Daniel Brown – are both solid, experienced players unlikely to be unseated by a freshman.
That said, most of the Illini's in-the-box defensive talent is unproven, and with a new coordinator and scheme being introduced to the mix, there may be more opportunity for Paulsen right away than there might have been under different circumstances. Jared Shlensky is a contributing writer for On SI and a freelance play-by-play broadcaster. Jared was previously a sports betting writer for Yardbarker, an On-Air YouTube Personality for the Sports Geek and a minor league play-by-play broadcaster.
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