13 Year Old Commits to USC

[Dirtbag59]

Guest Dad Joe Burris is thinking about 13-year-old quarterback David Sills, who has given a verbal commitment to play football for the University of Southern California -- while still in middle school:

The latest news dominating sports circles involves a 13-year-old quarterback from Delaware who has been offered a football scholarship to the University of Southern California, one of college football’s premier programs.

Seventh grader David Sills has verbally committed to USC (though he can back out of the commitment at any time) after reportedly being offered a scholarship by USC head coach Lane Kiffin, a 34-year-old mentor.

Now, I don’t know how talented Sills is (as an 11-year-old he was hailed as being one of the best prospects ever in a Sports Illustrated piece) or whether that talent or his body will ever blossom into anything worthy of major-college football potential .

And keep in mind, until he signs a letter of intent (which comes much later), he is not legally bound to attend USC.

But at an age when it means so much to be popular among one’s peer groups, this kid must be having the time of his life right now. Even the most modest youngster would struggle keeping his ego in check.

It makes you wonder what frame of mind he’ll be in a couple of years from now -- particularly if he’s a good, even great, quarterback, but not the phenom that would warrant a scholarship offer at 13.

I don’t know who this kid has in his corner advising him against the dark side of major college sports -- be it his parents, guardians, coaches or whomever.

But here’s what I do know: In the 18 years I spent as a sportswriter, I witnessed some of the greatest NFL quarterbacks in history _ including Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Steve McNair. And I don’t recall any of them receiving this much attention as seventh graders. That’s because at that age, none worthy of it. It’s just way too early to know.