USC football: 14-year-old quarterback David Sills looking forward to spring practice

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

USC begins spring practice Tuesday and among the interested observers will be eighth-grader David Sills.

Sills, a 14-year-old quarterback from Delaware, made an oral commitment to the Trojans last year after Coach Lane Kiffin offered him a scholarship based on a video and a recommendation from private quarterbacks coach Steve Clarkson.

The offer and commitment sent shock waves through college football, but Sills has taken it in stride.

“My teammates treat me the same,” he said in a phone interview Monday, shortly after arriving in Los Angeles. “It’s been pretty regular besides doing all the interviews.”

Sills played for the high school varsity at Red Lion Christian Academy last season. He passed for 1,355 yards and nine touchdowns in eight games, with five interceptions.

“It was different,” he said. “I learned what a real football game feels like. When you’re done, you’re sore even if you haven’t been hit a lot.”

Sills said he is working on improving his “mental game” and is looking forward to watching the Trojans and meeting with coaches. Sills said he would watch the first week of workouts and return in the final week.

Clarkson caused a stir last month when he told Times reporter Eric Sondheimer that Auburn had offered Sills a scholarship. But Sills’s father said then, and Sills said Monday, that it was teammate who received the offer.

Asked Monday if he were still committed to USC, Sills said “100%.”

RELATED:

USC Football: Mitch Mustain offered pre-file diversion program

Defensive lineman Steve Dillon signs letter of intent with USC

--Gary Klein