David Sills

David Sills V (born May 29, 1996) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL).

As a seventh-grade quarterback in 2010, he garnered national attention when he verbally committed to play football at the University of Southern California. In 2014, Sills decommitted from USC and eventually signed a national letter of intent to play at West Virginia University. Sills began his college career as a quarterback, but moved to wide receiver as a freshman. After spending his freshman year playing for the West Virginia Mountaineers, Sills transferred to El Camino College, but transferred back to West Virginia in 2017. He led the nation that season in touchdown receptions and was a first-team 2017 College Football All-America Team selection by Sporting News, Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports for the 2017 West Virginia Mountaineers. He led the 2018 Big 12 Conference in touchdowns and was named 2018 All-Big 12 Conference football team first-team selection as well as a Second-team 2018 College Football All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and American Football Coaches Association.

Early life Sills was born in 1996. His parents are Denise and David Sills IV. He has two older sisters, Emma and Abby. His father is a commercial developer and contractor, who played cornerback for the Virginia Military Institute. He began playing youth football at age six and began training at age nine with quarterback trainer Steve Clarkson.

Lane Kiffin offered Sills a scholarship to play college football at USC in 2010. Sills gave USC a non-binding verbal commitment in 2010. Sills was among the youngest football players to receive a scholarship offer from a major football program.

As a high school freshman, Sills was the starting quarterback for Red Lion Christian Academy, a private Delaware school for grades K-12. and Bloomberg News described him as the "best arm money can buy". At Red Lion in 2010, he accumulated 1,355 passing yards and nine touchdowns against five interceptions in eight games. In 2011, he totalled 2,340 yards and 28 touchdowns in what was his second year as a varsity quarterback. He was named a MaxPreps.com U.S. Air Force second-team freshman All-American.

As a sophomore, Sills became the quarterback for Eastern Christian Academy (ECA) of Elkton, Maryland. The move was controversial because the school was a newly-formed online school. All enrolled boys were on the 46-man football team established by David Sills IV to showcase their talents to college scouts. Eastern Christian Academy was only able to play in three games in 2012 due to the school's failure to gain accreditation from the state. As a junior, Sills injured his knuckle and his delivery was impacted forever. Sills was one of West Virginia's early enrollees from the 2015 recruiting class. As a result, he was able to participate in spring practice. He battled fellow quarterbacks Skyler Howard, William Crest Jr. and Chris Chugunov for the starting quarterback spot. Howard was eventually named the starting quarterback. Sills earned playing time as a wide receiver after impressing coaches with his performance on the scout team. He made the game-winning touchdown reception in the 2016 Cactus Bowl against Arizona State and ended the season with seven receptions for 131 yards.

During spring drills in 2016, Sills split time between quarterback and wide receiver.

El Camino College On June 23, 2016, Sills announced he would transfer to El Camino College. He spent seven months on the couch of high school friend Khaliel Rodgers who was on the USC roster as an offensive lineman at the time.

Return to West Virginia On December 15, 2016, West Virginia football announced on Twitter that Sills would be returning to West Virginia. In West Virginia's 2017 spring game, Sills lined up at wide receiver and caught six passes for 98 yards from Will Grier. On September 9, Sills posted seven catches for a career-high 153 yards and a career-high three touchdowns against East Carolina. He then tallied 130 yards and two touchdowns against Kansas on September 23. Following the Kansas game and a bye week Sills was tied for the national lead in touchdown receptions with seven in his first four games and then he added two touchdown receptions on October 7 against TCU, bringing his total to nine. Sills added three more touchdown receptions on October 14 against Texas Tech extending his national lead. Sills' three receiving touchdowns on October 21 in a 38–36 victory over Baylor gave sills a total of 15 for the season, which continued to lead the nation. Sills made his 17th and 18th touchdown catches of the season on November 11 against Kansas State. However, in the following game, starting quarterback Grier was lost for the season, and Sills finished the season with 18 touchdowns.

As a junior, Sills received numerous honors. On November 13, he was one of three 2017 Big 12 Conference football wide receivers named as a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award (along with James Washington and Keke Coutee). A week later he was named as one of three finalists for the award (along with Washington and Michael Gallup). On November 30, Sills was the only member of the 2017 West Virginia Mountaineers football team named to the 2017 All-Big 12 Conference football first team. Sills finished the season as the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision touchdown receptions leader with 18 (tied with Anthony Miller). Sills earned 2017 College Football All-America Team first-team recognition from Sports Illustrated, Sporting News and CBS Sports. Sills also earned several second-team All-American honors, including Associated Press, Walter Camp Football Foundation, SB Nation, College Football News, and American Football Coaches Association. Sills decided to return to play his senior season with Grier. Fred Biletnikoff Award, and Walter Camp Award. With Grier back for their senior seasons, Sills opened up the season with a seven-catch, 140-yard, two-touchdown effort in a victory over Tennessee. The Mountaineers schedule was cut short one game when Hurricane Florence caused a cancellation of the September 15 game at NC State. On September 22, Sills tallied three touchdowns against Kansas State. Sills also had 2-touchdown performances against Baylor (139 yards) on October 25, Texas on November 3, and Oklahoma (131 yards) on November 23. Sills' 15 touchdowns led the Big 12. Following the season, he was a 2018 All-Big 12 Conference football team first-team selection. Sills earned 2018 College Football All-America Team second-team recognition by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and, American Football Coaches Association. He earned third-team recognition from the Associated Press.

Professional career

Buffalo Bills Sills signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2019. He was waived by the Bills on August 31.

New York Giants On September 1, 2019, Sills was signed to the practice squad of the New York Giants. On December 17, Sills was promoted to the active roster.

Sills was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Giants on July 28, 2020, and activated from the list on August 4. On September 4, Sills was placed on the injured reserve list after fracturing his foot during training camp. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on December 30, and moved back to injured reserve on January 7, 2021. Sills signed a contract extension with the team on January 7 through the 2021 season. On October 23, Sills was signed to the active roster. He was waived on October 26, and re-signed to the practice squad. On January 8, 2022, Sills was promoted to the active roster.

On March 11, 2022, Sills re-signed with the Giants. He surpassed 100 career receiving yards in Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, when he recorded a 19-yard reception that increased his career total from 99 to 118 receiving yards. Sills was released on December 31. He re-signed with the team's practice squad on January 3, 2023.

Sills signed a reserve/future contract on January 26, 2023. He was waived as part of final roster cuts on August 29.

Denver Broncos On August 31, 2023, Sills was signed to the Denver Broncos practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024.

On August 27, 2024, Sills was released by the Broncos. The next day, he was re-signed to the practice squad.

Atlanta Falcons On January 21, 2025, Sills signed a reserve/future contract with the Atlanta Falcons. He made the Falcons' initial 53-man roster before being released on September 5 and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. He was promoted to the active roster on September 13. In Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints, Sills caught the first touchdown of his NFL career on a nine-yard pass from Kirk Cousins in a 24–10 victory. He caught his second career touchdown the following week against the New York Jets. In Week 15 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sills recorded career highs with six receptions for 78 yards, including a diving 21-yard catch on fourth-and-14 in the final minute that set up Zane Gonzalez's game-winning 43-yard field goal in a 29–28 comeback victory. He appeared in all 17 games, making four starts, and finished the season with career highs of 18 receptions for 191 yards and two touchdowns.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers On April 7, 2026, Sills signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year contract. He was placed on injured reserve on August 30.

Career statistics NFL Year Team Games Receiving GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 2019 NYG 0 0 2020 NYG 0 0 2021 NYG 4 1 2 17 8.5 12 0 2022 NYG 9 5 11 106 9.6 24 0 2023 DEN 3 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 2024 DEN 0 0 2025 ATL 17 4 18 191 10.6 21 2 Career 33 11 31 314 10.6 24 2

College Season Team Games Passing Rushing 2016 El Camino 10 10 4–6 127 238 53.4 1,636 6.9 15 7 126.0 96 258 2.7 5 Career 10 10 4−6 127 238 53.4 1,636 6.9 15 7 126.0 96 258 2.7 5

Year Team Games Receiving 2015 West Virginia 8 1 7 131 18.7 2 2017 West Virginia 13 13 60 980 16.3 18 2018 West Virginia 12 12 65 986 15.2 15 Career 33 26 132 2,097 15.9 35