On Saturday, Paul was.
With four catches that each went for more than 30 yards, Paul gave the two offensive coaches the big play threat they were counting on before Nebraska's 31-17 win against Kansas.
The Cornhuskers used big sets with two tight ends and a fullback for the majority of the game and averaged 4.4 yards on plays where Paul didn't touch the ball. The Jayhawks responded to Nebraska's almost 2-1 run-to-pass ratio by stacking the box to eliminate the intermediate gains. Paul made them pay.
Three of Paul's catches set up Nebraska scores, including a 35-yard grab on the first play of the game that led to a touchdown. Watson said Paul benefitted from and was able to take advantage of the single coverage that came along with Nebraska's new offensive game plan.
The junior wide receiver responded to his opportunities and opened up holes in the KU defense with 154 receiving yards. The career-high performance is the sixth-best in school history and came after Paul only caught two total passes during the past two games.
His quarterback, Zac Lee, said he didn't see any extra passion from his normally dedicated receiver on Saturday. Instead, he explained Paul's performance by crediting the offensive system for giving his receiver the chance to shine.
"Because of what we've had to do as an offense, we haven't been able to just throw him some jump balls like we did tonight," Lee said. "I mean, what a great job he did coming down with the ball, finding it and just making plays."
Watson said he's been forced to dull down his offensive game plan, but he stills needs playmakers such as Paul to stretch the defense. Especially when Nebraska's two other wide receivers who caught passes in the game, Khiry Cooper and Brandon Kinnie, combined for four catches and 13 yards. The longest pass not thrown to Paul was a 10-yard Mike McNeill reception.
"We've kind of had to evolve throughout the season because of injuries and youth. That's going to cause single coverage," Watson said. "That's why Niles had a big game."
In the third quarter, Paul writhed on the field after landing on his head during a leaping 45-yard catch that gave his team the ball 11 yards away from the end zone.
"I landed on my head and blacked out," Paul said. "I just had a problem with memory and stuff. But I told them I was fine after that and wanted to get back out there and make plays."
Paul did just that with less than seven minutes left in the game. Kansas had just scored a touchdown to take a 17-16 lead in the fourth quarter, and the Jayhawk faithful were in a frenzy during the ensuing kickoff.
That's when Paul – whom Watson dubbed "the man" in fall camp – broke the game open once again. The Jayhawks attempted a short, squib kickoff, and Paul made them pay. He said he knew what the kicker was up to because he had watched film earlier in the week. Paul reacted on the memory, caught the ball on the run, made a couple of nice cuts and stiff-armed a defender during his 44-yard return down to KU's 36-yard line.
"That was huge," NU coach Bo Pelini said. "It was a big play in the football game. To answer right back that quickly, you know the stadium was all juiced up and we got the momentum back."
Nebraska running back Roy Helu Jr. would go on to give the Huskers the lead for good on the ensuing 20-yard touchdown run. Paul then caught the two-point conversion that would have forced Kansas to score a touchdown and point-after kick to tie the game.
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