When Davis Mills visited Stanford’s campus for the official weekend there were several reasons for him to be content. The visit is packed with interesting and entertaining events, there are two elite tackles in the class and the injury he suffered in a Georgia state final game will not affect his ability to compete when he arrives at The Farm.
Mills did not play in the Army All-American Bowl or participate in the practices as he protected his right knee, which buckled just before he took a shoulder to the chin in the AAA final against Cedar Grove. It was a hit that sent shivers down spines from inside the Georgia Dome to the Arrillaga Family Sports Center.
While he didn't play, Mills did go to San Antonio. He arrived Thursday and went through a walk through Friday. Saturday he watched Sarell commit to Stanford, an announcement that launched a thousand tweets about Stanford’s recruiting class.
“I was just happy to see we were being recognized as one of the best classes in the country,” Mills said. “I know we are not the biggest class, but we really have quality.”
One of the bonuses of a smaller class is that it’s relatively easy for the group to stay in touch and feel connected. Even though it had been several months since many of them saw each other at the USC game, there wasn’t any readjustment time necessary when the official visit started Friday.
“It was kind of like we didn’t skip a beat,” Mills said. “It was the same as it was before. Everyone was super comfortable with each other and it was fun to see.”
Mills considered spending time with the other recruits and Stanford players to be the highlight of the trip, but another top moment was “a cool scavenger hunt where we competed against each other.”
Recruits were paired with a couple current Stanford players and had to find spots on campus and take photos. It gave them an opportunity to explore the campus and get to know each other. It also drove home the point that Mills has more than the playbook to learn, he needs a map of campus.
How confident is the soon-to-be freshman that he could find all his courses? “No chance,” he laughed.
His host, Trent Irwin, recommended that whether he chose a skateboard or bicycle it should be motorized.
Mills enjoyed being paired with Irwin because he is, “similar to me -- chill and just likes to have fun. He gave me a glimpse of what it would be like the next couple years.”
Another reason it may have been appropriate for Mills to connect with Irwin is that the receiver is well known for his willingness to put in extra work and is often one of the last players to leave the practice field. Mills understands that history suggests it’s likely he’ll be redshirted, but he’s prepared to come in and compete for a starting job.
Mills is ready to use all the tools available to him to make it possible, including the virtual reality lab at Stanford. Mills has used it several times on visits and has a grasp of how it can complement the work he has to put in on the practice field.
“They use it for getting a mental picture of what the defense is going to look like if you don’t get enough reps in practice, or if they want to prepare for games to get a last glimpse before they go out on Saturday,” he said. “I feel like it will help me a lot learning the playbook a lot quicker and being confident in my reads.”
One reality of Stanford that Mills already is comfortable with is the quality of the people on campus. From listening to Dr. Condoleezza Rice to eating breakfast a couple tables away from Olympian Katie Ledecky.
"I wouldn’t say star struck," he said of the experiences. "At Stanford you’re kind of used to that type of thing. It’s what makes it such a great place."
