8th-grade wide receiver accepts USC scholarship offer

Wide receiver Nathan Tilford, who's yet to start high school, has accepted a scholarship offer from USC. He's not the youngest player Lane Kiffin has ever offered.

USC coach Lane Kiffin has offered a scholarship to a wide receiver who hasn't even begun high school. (USATSI)

In Lane Kiffin’s world, it’s never too early.

USC’s coach offered a scholarship to a seventh-grade quarterback in 2010, and now he’s offered one to incoming high school freshman wideout Nathan Tilford.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder, who impressed at USC’s skills camp, told NBCLosAngeles.com that he was “speechless” at the offer.

"I said yes right away,” he said. “That has been my dream school. This is where I wanted to go, and I made it here.”

First he has to go to high school, where he’s about to begin summer practice.

Upland High coach Tim Salter told the Los Angeles Times: "I would like for the young man to enjoy his high school experience before he has to worry about what college to go to."

David Sills, the Delaware seventh-grader offered by Kiffin, also committed to USC and is entering his junior year of high school.

Of course, USC isn't the only school rushing to offer youngsters. Alabama in February made a scholarship offer to eighth-grader Dylan Moses, and that wasn't his first offer. LSU offered him a scholarship after his seventh-grade year.