The sophomore receiver will compete in the 2016 International Bowl in Arlington, Texas
Watch sophomore receiver Dillon Spalding lead his team to victory over the state champion Westfield Bulldogs early in the 2015 season. (Video by Josh Apple for Synthesis/Koubaroulis LLC / The Washington Post)
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December 18, 2015, 4:00 p.m. — Dillon Spalding has made a big name for himself in the Washington, D.C. region for his beyond-his-years talent, but now the South County sophomore wide receiver has garnered recognition on a national level.
The young prospect will be representing USA Football as a member of the U-17 national team, facing off against Canada in the 2016 International Bowl. This game annually showcases the best talent in the country, and will be played at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Feb. 5.
“I am very excited, it was a big goal of mine to be on the USA team and wear USA across my chest, and to play in the Cowboys stadium,” Spalding said.
USA Football assembles teams at the Under-14, Under-15, Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 levels each year. Recent alumni of the national teams include QB Jameis Winston, QB Bryce Petty, QB Kevin Hogan, RB Todd Gurley and RB Samaje Perine.
DMVSTREAM.COM broadcast the USA Football Developmental Games LIVE from Towson University this summer, a part of the tryout process. Watch a video about how we produced that event here.
Spalding threw his name into the mix for USA Football back in July when he competed in a week-long tryout for the national teams in Texas.
“All the coaches loved me down there, and I really think I stood out,” Spalding said.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound receiver burst onto the scene for the Stallions as a freshman, as he was dubbed a starter the moment his high school career began in Lorton, Va. Although his game was at a level much higher than a typical freshman, the young receiver did have some growing pains.
“At first I was really nervous having never been on the varsity stage before,” Spalding said, “but I started to get used to it and just tried to give it my best being the youngest one on the field.”
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That experience as a freshman paved the way for his big-time sophomore campaign. Spalding racked up 1,232 yards and 13 touchdowns, and was named first team all-conference, first team all-region and second team All-Met.
“I really think I made a great improvement since last year, in my knowledge of the game and being more comfortable on the field,” Spalding said.
Fellow Stallion, running back DeMarcus Ramsey, believes the sky is the limit for the talented receiver.
“He’s so far ahead of mostly every kid in his class throughout the region,” Ramsey said. “The only thing that would be surprising I think will be is if he chooses not to exceed the greatness he’s destined to be.”
While the competition in Northern Virginia is strong, he will have the opportunity to experience another level of play during the International Bowl as the best players from USA and Canada will assemble on one field.
“Representing my country is important, it’s a big deal to me,” Spalding said, “and meeting new people down there will be exciting.”
For Spalding, the most enticing part of the experience is having the chance to play in the Cowboys’ 80,000-seat stadium, known for its retractable roof and the world’s fourth largest high definition video screen.
“Seeing it on TV is just amazing, getting to play in there is even better,” Spalding said.
With two years of varsity experience and a national competition soon to be under his belt, Spalding has high hopes for his junior season.
“I want at least 1,500 yards and 15 to 20 touchdowns, those are my goals,” Spalding said. “I just want to keep improving every year.”
According to the standout receiver, he has great hands and a high football IQ, but he needs to improve his flexibility in order to take his game to another level.
One thing that does not need improvement is his maturity, both in terms of his appearance and play on the football field.
“On the field, off the field, everyone asks me, ‘you’re a sophomore?’” Spalding said.
Despite the 210-pound frame and talent on the turf, he is in fact just a sophomore, a scary thought for teams in Northern Virginia who will continue to face him.
Ramsey, who transferred to the Stallions program midway through his prep career from Texas, was surprised when he first discovered Spalding’s age.
“He is an upcoming junior, but with the body of an upcoming junior in college,” Ramsey said. “Also, with him using it to his advantage to make lots of the insane catches I’ve witnessed him make in practice and our games.”
Whether it’s a one-handed catch downfield or a tough short snag in traffic, Spalding has college-level catching abilities and is difficult to bring down once he makes the catch.
Although the recruiting process has yet to begin for the sophomore, those skills will be very attractive to college coaches in the very near future.
“Ever since I was little I wanted to stand out, and right now I’m really satisfied with what I’ve been doing,” Spalding said.
DMVSTREAM.com is a web site dedicated to broadcasting live sports in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. DMVSTREAM.com broadcasts pro, amateur, college, high school, AAU and youth games and tournaments to televisions, computers and mobile devices like iPads, iPhones and more. DMVSTREAM.com is a product of Synthesis Multimedia Productions/Koubaroulis LLC. — founded, owned and operated by longtime D.C. area sports personality B.J. Koubaroulis.