David Sills (American football)
Encyclopedia
David Sills V is a youth football quarterback
, who at age thirteen, in 2010, has already been recruited by USC Trojans football head coach
Lane Kiffin
. Since the age of eleven he has been recruited by major college football
programs such as UCLA
. He is a pupil of Steve Clarkson
, whom some consider to be the foremost quarterback trainer in the country and who has mentored among others Jimmy Clausen
, Terrelle Pryor
, Matt Barkley
, Ben Roethlisberger
, Matt Leinart
and Matt Cassell. Since the age of 9 he has trained with Clarkson about 40 days a year. His father, David Sills IV, played one year for the Virginia Military Institute. Sills began playing pee wee football at age six.
In Summer 2009, Sills was among the 7th grade youth quarterbacks at the Debartolo Sports University in Las Vegas, with the likes of 7th grade Randall Cunningham, Jr. and several other notable performers. Kiffin offered Sills a scholarship
in 2010. On February 5, 2010, Sills made a verbal commitment to attend University of Southern California
even though he is ineligible to sign a letter of intent
until 2015. Kiffin heard about Sills via a popular YouTube
video that Clarkson recommended and had not actually met him personally at the time of his verbal commitment. Clarkson coordinated the communication of the scholarship offer to keep its execution within the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) bylaws. The commitment that Sills has made is non-binding, which allows him to decommit and pursue another program. Sills is among the youngest football players to ever receive a scholarship offer from a major football program. Sills' commitment brought about numerous responses from sources such as ESPN
calling into question NCAA recruiting policies on youth athletes.
In February 2011, there were unfounded rumors that the Auburn Tigers football
team had made him a scholarship offer. The rumors turned out to be unfounded. Sills flew from Delaware to California to observe USC spring practice in March 2011.
At age thirteen, Sills, a seventh-grader from , is nearly 6 feet (1.83 m) tall. Scouts mention his youth athletic prowess in the same breath with Tiger Woods
and LeBron James
. Sills is the starting quarterback for Red Lion Christian Academy, which is a school for grades K-12 in Bear. By 2007, Sports Illustrated
had already hailed him as one of the greatest prospects ever, and Bloomberg News described him as the "best arm money can buy". Sills uses National Football League
video footage to learn quarterbacking skills. At Red Lion in 2010, he accumulated 1,355 passing yards and nine touchdowns against five interceptions in eight games. Midway through his high school freshman season in 2011, Rivals.com
described him as follows: "Plays beyond his years and has all the tools already to be a great one."
with his whole family.
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, who at age thirteen, in 2010, has already been recruited by USC Trojans football head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Lane Kiffin
Lane Kiffin
Lane Monte Kiffin is the current head coach of the University of Southern California Trojans college football team. He was previously the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers college football team, the Oakland Raiders of the NFL, and the offensive coordinator for the Trojans...
. Since the age of eleven he has been recruited by major college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
programs such as UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
. He is a pupil of Steve Clarkson
Steve Clarkson
Steve Clarkson is an American football coach. He is considered one of the premier quarterback coaches. Clarkson has tutored Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Leinart, J. P...
, whom some consider to be the foremost quarterback trainer in the country and who has mentored among others Jimmy Clausen
Jimmy Clausen
James Richard "Jimmy" Clausen is an American football quarterback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame.-High school career:Clausen had an outstanding prep career...
, Terrelle Pryor
Terrelle Pryor
Terrelle Pryor is an American football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was the starting quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2008−2010...
, Matt Barkley
Matt Barkley
Matt Barkley is an American football quarterback and student athlete at the University of Southern California, playing for the Trojans football team. As a high school player, Barkley was named 2007 football Gatorade National Player of the Year, and then the 2007 Gatorade national male athlete of...
, Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger
Benjamin Todd "Ben" Roethlisberger , nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round in the 2004 NFL Draft...
, Matt Leinart
Matt Leinart
Matthew Stephen Leinart , is an American professional football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League...
and Matt Cassell. Since the age of 9 he has trained with Clarkson about 40 days a year. His father, David Sills IV, played one year for the Virginia Military Institute. Sills began playing pee wee football at age six.
In Summer 2009, Sills was among the 7th grade youth quarterbacks at the Debartolo Sports University in Las Vegas, with the likes of 7th grade Randall Cunningham, Jr. and several other notable performers. Kiffin offered Sills a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
in 2010. On February 5, 2010, Sills made a verbal commitment to attend University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
even though he is ineligible to sign a letter of intent
Letter of intent
A letter of intent is a document outlining an agreement between two or more parties before the agreement is finalized. The concept is similar to a heads of agreement...
until 2015. Kiffin heard about Sills via a popular YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
video that Clarkson recommended and had not actually met him personally at the time of his verbal commitment. Clarkson coordinated the communication of the scholarship offer to keep its execution within the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) bylaws. The commitment that Sills has made is non-binding, which allows him to decommit and pursue another program. Sills is among the youngest football players to ever receive a scholarship offer from a major football program. Sills' commitment brought about numerous responses from sources such as ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
calling into question NCAA recruiting policies on youth athletes.
In February 2011, there were unfounded rumors that the Auburn Tigers football
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
team had made him a scholarship offer. The rumors turned out to be unfounded. Sills flew from Delaware to California to observe USC spring practice in March 2011.
At age thirteen, Sills, a seventh-grader from , is nearly 6 feet (1.83 m) tall. Scouts mention his youth athletic prowess in the same breath with Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
and LeBron James
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
. Sills is the starting quarterback for Red Lion Christian Academy, which is a school for grades K-12 in Bear. By 2007, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
had already hailed him as one of the greatest prospects ever, and Bloomberg News described him as the "best arm money can buy". Sills uses National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
video footage to learn quarterbacking skills. At Red Lion in 2010, he accumulated 1,355 passing yards and nine touchdowns against five interceptions in eight games. Midway through his high school freshman season in 2011, Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
described him as follows: "Plays beyond his years and has all the tools already to be a great one."
Personal
His parents' names are Denise and David Sills IV. He has two older sisters, Emma, 17 as of February 2010, and Abby, 14. Sills IV is a commercial developer and contractor. In 2010, he appeared on Good Morning AmericaGood Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
with his whole family.