David Sills goes undrafted but signs with Bills; Troy Reeder inks Rams deal

While two players with First State ties were early NFL draft choices, others with pro potential didn’t hear their names called but waited for inevitable free-agent opportunities Saturday night.

That list was headed by David Sills V, the quarterback-turned-wide receiver from West Virginia University who was widely expected to be among the 254 players drafted by NFL teams, and University of Delaware linebacker Troy Reeder, the Salesianum grad who began his college career at Penn State.

Sills did accept a contract offer from the Buffalo Bills, according to reports.

Reeder agreed to a free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Rams, according to UD.

But he wasn't the only Blue Hen to get a pro opportunity as tight end Charles Scarff signed with the Baltimore Ravens, who have another ex-UD tight end in Nick Boyle.

Also, Delaware’s quarterback-turned-wideout Joe Walker received a camp invite from the Chicago Bears, where former Blue Hens quarterback Matt Nagy is the head coach. Wide receiver Vinny Papale of Delaware earned a camp tryout from the Oakland Raiders, as did cornerback Tenny Adewusi from the New York Giants.

Caravel Academy graduate Darnell Savage, from the University of Maryland, had been the 21st overall pick in Thursday’s first round by the Green Bay Packers. Delaware’s Nasir Adderley was then chosen by the Los Angeles Chargers with 60th overall pick in Friday’s second round. Both play safety.

In his only two full football seasons as a wide receiver, Sills caught more touchdown passes than anyone in NCAA Division I. Apparently, the former quarterback prodigy still has some convincing to do, but he will get that chance. The former Red Lion Christian Academy standout from Bear not being drafted stirred up considerable angst on Twitter.

Sills had 132 receptions for 2,097 yards and 35 touchdowns in 33 games at West Virginia. He also has good size at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds and has run a 4.57-second 40-yard dash.

Now 22, Sills had made national headlines as a 13-year-old seventh grader at Red Lion Christian Academy in 2010. He was offered and accepted a scholarship to play quarterback at Southern Cal beginning in 2015 by then-Trojans coach Lane Kiffin.

Heading into his senior year of high school at Eastern Christian Academy in Elkton, Maryland, Sills decided to instead attend West Virginia after a coaching change at USC.

As a freshman, Sills answered a need by filling in at wide receiver while also being a quarterback. Down on the depth chart, he then transferred to El Camino College, a two-year school in Los Angeles, for his sophomore season in the hope of reigniting recruiting interest in him as a quarterback, which he played there in 2016.

But Sills decided to return to West Virginia to play wide receiver, which he came to realize was the right spot for him. He caught 60 passes for 980 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior and had 65 receptions for 986 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior. His 33 receiving touchdowns over the 2017 and 2018 seasons led the nation.

The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Reeder, from Hockessin, was a three-year starter at Delaware after transferring from Penn State, where he started as a redshirt freshman. He was a two-time first-team All-CAA pick and led the CAA with 131 tackles in 2018, including 13½ for lost yardage.

In three busy Blue Hen seasons, Reeder had 283 tackles, including 25 for lost yardage; five forced fumbles; three fumble recoveries; and four interceptions.

Reeder’s father Danny, the former Christiana High and UD running back, was a fifth-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Raiders in 1985 and played 13 games in 1986 and 1987 with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @kevintresolini.