13-Year-Old Quarterback Commits To USC

Here’s a story that is destined to be in the “Sign of the Apocalypse” section of next week’s Sports Illustrated.

Lane Kiffin and USC had just secured their most coveted recruit in the 2010 class after receiving news that Seantrel Hendrson, a monstrous 6′7″ 300lb offensive tackle from Minnesota, would be faxing in his letter of intent as soon as the NCAA decided whether or not to take action in the Reggie Bush debacle. They had won the battle for Henderson by convincing the talented young star that the Trojans’ future was brighter than Big Ten powerhouse Ohio State’s and perennial title contender Florida’s, a task that is easier said than done.

So while coaching staffs around the nation took this time to sit back and possibly give their beautifully manufactured new car a test ride - if enough players were on campus - Lane Kiffin decided to lay the ground work for a new class. Not the 2011 class though. Or the 2012 class. Or the 2013 class. Not even the class of 2014!

Kiffin took a walk on the recruiting trail and picked up a commitment from a 13-year-old quarterback prodigy named David Sills. Sills, a seventh grader from Delaware, hopped all over the scholarship offer and became the first member of USC’s 2015 - or maybe earlier - class.

Sills works out with quarterback guru Steve Clarkson who has tutored the likes of Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Leinart, Jimmy Clausen and other prep quarterbacks who swear by his developmental techniques. His latest star pupil, Matt Barkley, is currently the starting quarterback for the Trojans.

“His skill set is off the chart,” Clarkson said of Sills. “I’ve never seen anyone at his age do what he’s been able to do. He’s already six feet as a 13-year old and he’s breaking down NFL footage.”

Clarkson was discussing another recruit with Kiffin when Sills all of a sudden became the topic of the conversation. Clarkson persuaded Kiffin to watch a highlight video of Sills on the internet. After watching the footage and hearing everything the credible Clarkson had to say about the young buck, Kiffin decided to make the instant offer.

It will be interesting to see if Sills attempts to take some type of fast track to the pro or college game if he is truly head and shoulders above his peers. For example, baseball’s latest prodigy, Bryce Harper, has figured out a way to beat the system and become eligible for the 2010 MLB Draft, a year earlier than he would had he graduated with his natural high school class of 2011.

Harper, who has graced the cover of Sports Illustrated alongside the title ‘Baseball’s Chosen One’, got his GED and enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada, a junior college outside of his hometown of Las Vegas, and under Major League Baseball rules he can be taken in the upcoming MLB Draft in June.

If Sills was interested in doing the same thing, he would probably have to work extremely hard to graduate early from high school, possibly by age 17, and immediately enroll at USC. Be honest with yourself; would anything this kid does between now and the time he actually plays his first college game surprise you?