By BRYAN STRICKLAND

bstrickland@heraldsun.com; 419-6671

DURHAM -- Just one week into his first football practices in nearly five years, former Duke point guard Greg Paulus has been named the starting quarterback for Syracuse.

"I'm happy for him," Duke football coach David Cutcliffe said. "Having watched him, what I've said all along is, 'Never count him out.' I would say that what's probably given him an edge is his competitiveness, and that doesn't mean just on the practice field -- that means the way he's probably prepared and worked.

"When you play for Mike Krzyzewski, I think you probably learn something about preparation."

First-year Syracuse coach Doug Marrone announced that Paulus would be the starter Monday night, picking him over sophomore Ryan Nassib, senior Cam Dantley and freshman Charley Loeb.

Nassib was listed as first team after spring practice, which started around the Paulus was ending his four-year career for the Blue Devils' basketball team.

Soon after, Paulus began considering a relaunch of his football career. Cutcliffe gave Paulus, an All-American quarterback at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, the option of trying to play wide receiver at Duke, but in May he decided to enroll in graduate school at Syracuse.

"I'm not going to be surprised if he does really well," Krzyzewski said earlier this summer.

Duke fans will have the opportunity to see Paulus in his debut: The Orange's opener against Minnesota on Sept. 5 will kick off at noon on ESPN2.