There is absolutely no doubt – David Sills is a West Virginia legend. The 13-year old quarterback prodigy turned star wide receiver made a name for himself in the red zone where he caught 33 touchdowns during the course of the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Following his Mountaineer career, Sills went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft before signing with the Buffalo Bills. After being cut, he would sign with the New York Giants practice squad. He would bounce back and forth between the active roster and practice squad before this season, 2022, when he would finally make the team’s 53-man roster.
In his three appearances this season, the sure-handed Sills has grabbed 5 passes for 57 yards on 8 targets. Having yet to reach the end zone, his next opportunity will come against the Chicago Bears this Sunday at 1 p.m.
For his Mountaineer career, Sills grabbed 132 passes for 2,097 yards and 35 touchdowns – the second most in Mountaineer Football behind Stedman Bailey (41). He and former star quarterback Will Grier formed a special connection that drove secondaries all throughout the Big 12 absolutely insane. If those two were in the red zone together, you could almost assure that Grier’s pass would find Sills somehow.
His most spectacular catch came against Kansas State in 2017, when he toe-tapped while falling out the back of the end zone.
Sills would finish the 2017 season as a finalist for the Biletnikoff award, losing it to Oklahoma State’s James Washington. He would also find himself named 1st-team All-Big 12 team that season.
Watching former Mountaineers flourish in the NFL is always a special treat for West Virginians. As for Sills, though he is just getting started, we have no doubt that he will find himself as an underrated star in the league once he finds his rhythm.
The 13-year old who was recruited by USC as a quarterback has certainly come a long way since then. I’m sure if you told him this would be his journey in 2010, he would’ve called you crazy – but that’s just how life goes sometimes.
