Can David Sills V be a true WR1?

David Sills V, WR
School: West Virginia | Conference: Big-12
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 201
Projected Draft Status: Late 2^nd to Early 3^rd Round
NFL Comparison: Kenny Golladay

College Statistics

Player Overview

Sills first came into the spotlight when he was infamously recruited as a seventh grade QB by then USC Coach Lane Kiffin. This gained him national notoriety and a few appearances on daily talk shows. Sills verbally committed to USC at that time, however it was not meant to be. After he finished high school, Sills went to play for Coach Dana Holgorsen at West Virginia, where he anticipated becoming the Mountaineers starting quarterback someday. After switching between quarterback and wide receiver during his Freshmen season, Sills decided to transfer to El Camino College in Alondra Park, CA, where he could continue to pursue his dream of playing quarterback. That lasted for one season as he then decided to transfer back to West Virginia for his final two seasons.

Sills then flourished in his Junior and Senior seasons in Morgantown playing exclusively as a wide receiver. As a junior, Sills reeled in 60 receptions for 980 yards, and nabbed 18 touchdown receptions (most in the FBS). This effort earned him a spot on the AP All-American Team (Second Team) and made him a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the top receiver in college football. As a Senior, he added another 65 receptions for 986 yards, while bringing in 15 more touchdowns. This effort was good enough to get him back on the AP All-American Team (Third Team). Sills was also named a First Team All Big-12 wide receiver in each of his final two seasons. These numbers and accolades are impressive, regardless of the fact that he was receiving passes from NFL prospect Will Grier and playing in the air-raid style offense deployed by the Mountaineers.

If he has anything working against him as a draft prospect it would be his questionable speed and thinner frame. The most important piece of the puzzle for him leading up to the draft might just be the 40-yard dash at the combine. If he is able to run a sub 4.5, he would quiet some of his doubters, however game tape indicates that running below this mark is not likely to happen. As for his frame, don’t expect him to put on weight soon as running a solid 40 and gaining weight usually don’t mix. Adding to his build will need to be done sooner rather than later however as he will no longer be grinding it out on a weekly basis against the porous defenses that exist in the Big-12 conference.

Strengths

• Has the ability to process the defense quickly as a result of playing quarterback earlier in his high school and college career
• Possesses good height and long arms for the wide receiver position, which creates an ideal catch radius
• Does a solid job of going up and winning 50/50 balls
• Surprisingly agile and has good body control for a wide receiver of his size
• Tough competitor that displays a passion for the game both on the field and on the sidelines between drives

Weaknesses

• Lacks the top end speed required of a true WR1, which will probably cause him to have issues getting separation at the next level
• Has a slender build which may cause him to get bullied at the line of scrimmage by more physical NFL cornerbacks
• Given the type of offensive scheme utilized by West Virginia, he has limited experience with running complex routes
• Needs to show more consistency with his hands

Clips

More David Sills V videos

How He Fits the Redskins

The Redskins current receiving corps situation can only be described as….well….it’s a mess. Josh Doctson has not lived up to his first round draft status and most are concerned that a breakout season is not in his future. Paul Richardson was sent to the IR in his first season with the team, but he rarely flashed before that happened anyways. Jamison Crowder was inconsistent this year and may be on his way out of town as he is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent. The Redskins need a true WR1 in the worst way, however there may not be one available in what appears to be a mediocre draft class for wide receivers. So where does this leave Sills in the mix? While Sills may not have the ceiling of a bonafide star receiver at the next level, he does have the makings of an exceptional possession receiver who is capable of moving the chains on a regular basis. At this juncture, this is the type of player the Redskins should welcome with open arms….at the right draft price of course.