Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
All-American Sills V Getting More Comfortable at WR
April 13, 2018 09:53 AM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The process in becoming a dependable wide receiver can be looked at as an art. From footwork to body control, nuances of route running to physicality, a lot goes into being a productive pass catcher.
Such a task can take years to truly understand, let alone master. That makes West Virginia senior David Sills V's 2017 campaign even more impressive, considering the relative inexperience he had at the position.
Sills V, who was a Biletnikoff Award finalist as one of the nation's top receivers, caught 60 passes for 980 yards and an eye-popping 18 touchdowns last fall in what was his first full season at the position after years of chasing a dream of playing quarterback. Those numbers clearly showed the Wilmington, Delaware, native was able to handle the sharp learning curve by relying on his coachability and pure athleticism.
But as the senior heads into a promising 2018 campaign in one of the most potent offenses in the country, he does so knowing the work is far from being finished as he continues to mature as a complete receiver. Luckily, WVU's spring-practice regimen aided in Sills V's desire to improve.
"Every practice is very valuable," Sills V said during a recent media availability session. "Only getting 14 this (spring), you want to take every time you get out there as a chance to get better. We did that this year; everybody came to practice, ready to practice, ready to play with a good energy throughout the whole practice. We felt good about our spring ball, felt like we got a lot done and we feel good going into summer and into fall camp."
Sills was selected as a first-team All-American by three entities following last year's breakout season. Five others placed him on an All-America second team, while two made him a third-team choice. The All-Big 12 First Team receiver found the end zone early and often en route to registering the second-most in a single season in program history.
His 18 receiving scores tied for tops in the country, which propelled Sills V to being one of only two receivers on the nation's top-50 scorers list – one that included 33 kickers. The 6-foot-4 target even tallied three touchdowns in a game three times, the first Mountaineer to accomplish the feat since Stedman Bailey during his jaw-dropping 25-touchdown surge in 2012.
All that led Sills V's position coach, Tyron Carrier, to admit a rather large review of what he saw out of the streaky, yet raw, receiver's 2017 resume.
"I've never seen anybody just catch on to it that fast," Carrier explained. "Ever."
Sills V, however, is no different than many of the other Mountaineers who have long-since turned their focus to what's ahead of them rather than relishing in numbers from the past. The WVU offense has spent a large portion of the spring focusing on efficiency and strengthening the already lethal connections many have with one another.
Sills V is certainly included in that, too. Team chemistry is something the senior would like to have in a good place by the time fall camp opens in the coming months. He says the team's spring practices have gone a long way in that regard.
"We all really have the same goals and that is to just win on the field, and I feel like we have done a good job at doing that," Sills V said. "That's really where the team chemistry comes from, having that good character in the locker room, good leadership, so that everyone can follow the group of guys that are leading the team."
Part of the process of developing into a well-rounded receiver also requires more work off the field. That's why Sills V has made a real effort to improve his diet and add more muscle to his lean frame.
He is off to a good start in those offseason endeavors, as he was named one of the team's 2018 Iron Mountaineer Award winners, presented to the most outstanding performers during WVU's offseason strength and conditioning program.
"I'm trying to eat a lot better food and trying to trim some body fat and get a little bit bigger," Sills V said. "That's kind of what it's been the whole offseason, but definitely in the summer is where I want to put on a few more pounds. I've gained a couple pounds and went down a couple body percent fat, but in the summer, being able to eat more meals and work out a lot, I think that'll be a good time for me."
There's little doubt Sills V will continue to be a major factor in the Mountaineers' big plans going forward. In reality, though, the big-play threat is just one of several receivers looking to making sizable improvements ahead of the new year.
Other proven commodities like senior Gary Jennings Jr. and junior Marcus Simms, as well as potential contributors like senior Dominique Maiden, redshirt sophomore T.J. Simmons, sophomore Reggie Roberson Jr. and others have all helped one other in terms of growing inside the offense.
As for Sills V, there's little concern about how much improvement he can make from one season to the next. In fact, those who know him best are eager to see what the future holds for the promising Mountaineer.
"He's been through so many ups and downs in his young life," Carrier said. "I think the roller coasters early in his career helped him out now. He's just so bought in, so focused that it made it easy for him."
Such a task can take years to truly understand, let alone master. That makes West Virginia senior David Sills V's 2017 campaign even more impressive, considering the relative inexperience he had at the position.
Sills V, who was a Biletnikoff Award finalist as one of the nation's top receivers, caught 60 passes for 980 yards and an eye-popping 18 touchdowns last fall in what was his first full season at the position after years of chasing a dream of playing quarterback. Those numbers clearly showed the Wilmington, Delaware, native was able to handle the sharp learning curve by relying on his coachability and pure athleticism.
But as the senior heads into a promising 2018 campaign in one of the most potent offenses in the country, he does so knowing the work is far from being finished as he continues to mature as a complete receiver. Luckily, WVU's spring-practice regimen aided in Sills V's desire to improve.
"Every practice is very valuable," Sills V said during a recent media availability session. "Only getting 14 this (spring), you want to take every time you get out there as a chance to get better. We did that this year; everybody came to practice, ready to practice, ready to play with a good energy throughout the whole practice. We felt good about our spring ball, felt like we got a lot done and we feel good going into summer and into fall camp."
Sills was selected as a first-team All-American by three entities following last year's breakout season. Five others placed him on an All-America second team, while two made him a third-team choice. The All-Big 12 First Team receiver found the end zone early and often en route to registering the second-most in a single season in program history.
His 18 receiving scores tied for tops in the country, which propelled Sills V to being one of only two receivers on the nation's top-50 scorers list – one that included 33 kickers. The 6-foot-4 target even tallied three touchdowns in a game three times, the first Mountaineer to accomplish the feat since Stedman Bailey during his jaw-dropping 25-touchdown surge in 2012.
All that led Sills V's position coach, Tyron Carrier, to admit a rather large review of what he saw out of the streaky, yet raw, receiver's 2017 resume.
"I've never seen anybody just catch on to it that fast," Carrier explained. "Ever."
Sills V, however, is no different than many of the other Mountaineers who have long-since turned their focus to what's ahead of them rather than relishing in numbers from the past. The WVU offense has spent a large portion of the spring focusing on efficiency and strengthening the already lethal connections many have with one another.
Sills V is certainly included in that, too. Team chemistry is something the senior would like to have in a good place by the time fall camp opens in the coming months. He says the team's spring practices have gone a long way in that regard.
"We all really have the same goals and that is to just win on the field, and I feel like we have done a good job at doing that," Sills V said. "That's really where the team chemistry comes from, having that good character in the locker room, good leadership, so that everyone can follow the group of guys that are leading the team."
Part of the process of developing into a well-rounded receiver also requires more work off the field. That's why Sills V has made a real effort to improve his diet and add more muscle to his lean frame.
He is off to a good start in those offseason endeavors, as he was named one of the team's 2018 Iron Mountaineer Award winners, presented to the most outstanding performers during WVU's offseason strength and conditioning program.
"I'm trying to eat a lot better food and trying to trim some body fat and get a little bit bigger," Sills V said. "That's kind of what it's been the whole offseason, but definitely in the summer is where I want to put on a few more pounds. I've gained a couple pounds and went down a couple body percent fat, but in the summer, being able to eat more meals and work out a lot, I think that'll be a good time for me."
There's little doubt Sills V will continue to be a major factor in the Mountaineers' big plans going forward. In reality, though, the big-play threat is just one of several receivers looking to making sizable improvements ahead of the new year.
Other proven commodities like senior Gary Jennings Jr. and junior Marcus Simms, as well as potential contributors like senior Dominique Maiden, redshirt sophomore T.J. Simmons, sophomore Reggie Roberson Jr. and others have all helped one other in terms of growing inside the offense.
As for Sills V, there's little concern about how much improvement he can make from one season to the next. In fact, those who know him best are eager to see what the future holds for the promising Mountaineer.
"He's been through so many ups and downs in his young life," Carrier said. "I think the roller coasters early in his career helped him out now. He's just so bought in, so focused that it made it easy for him."
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