David Sills is having an All-American season for the Mountaineers
David Sills came to West Virginia as a quarterback and he is currently in Morgantown as one of the best wide receivers in the country.
No one really could have predicted this would be the outcome of the crazy recruiting roller coaster that David Sills experience as a young teenager in Delaware.
Instead of playing in Morgantown, David Sills actually could be a star-studded player at USC, where he originally committed to when Lane Kiffin was head coach nearly a decade ago. If things really do happen for a reason, David Sills is a poster child for that old adage.
In a Sports Illustrated story, writer Andy Staples says David Sills learned it’s better to receive and discussed his successful transition from a highly-touted quarterback to a highly-respected receiver.
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David Sills didn’t have to go across the country to establish himself. But now as a junior with the Mountaineers he is officially cemented as one of the best in the country. Sills was named a Mid-Season All-American by the Associated Press.
This year, David Sills has 39 catches for 601 yards and a nation-leading 12 touchdown receptions. He is one of WVU quarterback Will Grier’s favorite targets and he has helped the Mountaineers re-establish themselves as one of the best passing attacks in the country.
Even though Sills did take his talents to California to prepare for this moment, he didn’t end up at USC like originally planned. Sills played a year at El Camino College as a quarterback before coming back to Morgantown to line up at wide receiver for the Mountaineers.
Upon news of his All-American appointment, veteran sports reporter Bob Hertzel caught up with David Sills in a story for the Register-Herald.
"“I came back with a dedication to work hard to be the best I could be. The coaches do a great job here in pushing you and getting you to the highest level. Some guys can’t take all of it. They push us to our limits and you have to take it and react to it. At the end of the day, they are doing it to make you the best player you can be.”"
Sills’ natural ability to play the game of football is nothing new. It was that athleticism that allowed Sills to be noticed by Lane Kiffin as a 13-year-old. He is a natural-born quarterback but his football IQ is on full display each time he catches a pass as a wide receiver.
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The Mountaineers are blessed to have a player like Sills, but if it wasn’t for head coach Dana Holgorsen and offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, Sills may not be the receiver he is today.
David Sills’ willingness to learn and accept whatever role he is given should be a lesson to all young players. Sills is far from a me-first type of player, even though he has the talent and statistics to prove otherwise. His work ethic, though, is what really carries him over the top as a star player.
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The other first-team All-American selection on this list was another standout from the Big 12 Conference, Oklahoma State’s James Washington. Washington has 34 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns this season.