Davis Mills Has Potential To Succeed As Stanford Starting Quarterback

The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I FBS Football Season is ready to kick off its regular season duration i.e. from August to December. The Division I FBS 2020 season has been scheduled from August 29 to December 12, 2020. The season consists of 130 elite teams, and the first week will be an opening weekend of college football, also known as Week 0.

As per the instruction announced from NCAA, the teams have begun their training from June 1, 2020.  The excitement among the fans is rolling on the floor and many new faces can be expected this season too - one of them is Davis Mills at Stanford. 

Davis started his career in 2017 when he enrolled for Stanford Cardinal and appeared in a game, being a sophomore, as a backup to K. J. Costello in 2018. Stanford Cardinal represents the Stanford University of California, the team that has won 126 NCAA team championships in its overall career. 

As Mills' career grew in 2019, he made 158 completions, 241 passing attempts, ran 1960 yards along with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.

How Has Costello Been with Stanford?

K. J. Costello enrolled at Stanford in 2016 and his debut started in 2017 as a backup to Keller Chryst, when he got injured. The match marked Costello's first national appearance of his career at Stanford against UCLA.

Later, Costello appeared as the starter for the team and continued for the whole 2017 season as the Cardinal’s quarterback. He covered 1573 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions in the 2017 season.

In the season 2018, his performance rose and he covered 3540 yards with 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, which is the second-highest mark in the school’s history.

While everyone expected him to go beyond what he performed in 2018’s season, the injuries snatched away his lights, and he downgraded to 102 of 167 attempts with 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Costello’s completion rate also improved from 58.8 to 65.1. His efforts showed the evidence of his commitment to the Cardinal when he ruled out Oregon State along with a hand injury in the last season - announced by the school.

While Costello applied for the transfer portal in December 2019, the recent share on Instagram and Twitter confirmed his adios at Stanford and entrance at Mississippi State University, where he will be coached by Mike Leach for the upcoming season.

Is Davis Mills the Right Replacement?

Before starting further, let’s see what Davis has to say about himself.

Once in an interview with 247Sports, Mills said that he knows he is the best in the class, and he didn’t find the opportunity to show himself on a national level. He continued further explaining his confidence in himself and also shared that he will put his head down and get to the work.

In the last season, Davis Mills broke the 21-year-old Husak’s passing record. Todd Husak, in 1998, made a record of 450 passing yards against Oregon State, which got broken by Mills in the last season’s game against WSU with a throw of 504 yards.

The record-breaking performance sits well with the words he said in an interview. If he had gotten the whole last season to perform, Stanford's position could be slightly positive to what it was. However, this doesn’t explain how Mill is more suitable relative to Costello as a quarterback.

But the visible difference in Mills’ and Costello’s numbers - in the last season - makes him a suitable quarterback for Stanford.

Stanford’s Recruit.

The 2019’s season was unexpected for Stanford where not only Costello had to leave the field due to his head injury but his backup Mills also faced a knee injury near the end of the season. 

Also, the incident of another dislocated knee in the team made Stanford’s Offensive Tackle, Walker Little, out for the entire 2019 season. 

Moreover, to counter the departure of J. J. Arcega-Whiteside (WR) and Bryce Love (RB), the Cardinal had to come up with the recruits.

Ayden Hector, who has been signed for the Cardinal, known for his fluidity and smart understanding of coverage. He also gets counted under one of the top-rated cornerbacks in the Pacific Northwest.

Myles Hinton, coming from athletic family background, has been signed for the position of Offensive Tackle is known for his angry run block nature.

John Humphreys, whose strength is his big body, arms, and nature of grabbing the tough catches made him a challenge for the opponent and a fit for the Cardinal.

The first Stanford’s match will be held on 5 September 2020 against W&M (William & Mary), where Davis Mills, a hot topic of the season, and other recruits will get the chance to roll.