At 5-foot-11, Adam Sahd grows tired of hearing about his height.
During a June camp, a Unveristy of Maryland coach told Sahd he had all the skills, but he has to grow.
The Penn Manor junior quarterback will work on the height issue, but continues to shine with the skills. Last Sunday he heightened his passing by finishing second in the 11th and 12th grade division of the SVS Under Armour Top 25 East Coast Elite QB Challenge in the University of Maryland's Byrd Stadium in College Park, Md.
"That's a tremendous accomplishment," camp director Jim Cantafio said. "In his division he was competing against six or seven Division I scholarship recruits and many more who will earn scholarships. There were 18 kids in the division and 12 will be full scholarships kids.
"There were blue-chippers that were 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-5, but in this competition, size doesn't matter. It comes down to skills."
Sahd beat recruits from North Carolina State, South Carolina and Virginia in five challenges that earn a maximum of 25 points. The challenges included hitting stationary targets on throws of five-steps, three-steps, sprint and pass, obstacle course and a long ball throw. He said it was privilege to play against a talented group of quarterbacks, but he looked at the competition as a way to push himself.
"I never compete with other players," he said. "I compete with myself."
Cantafio, who has worked with Sahd on his skills for six years, said colleges are noticing the Comet signal-caller.
"No doubt about it, people will take a look at him," Cantafio said. "No question, he'll be playing college football somewhere; it is just a question of where."
Sahd, who finished one point behind the winner — Fleetwood's Corey Unger —said the accomplishment boasts his confidence level and should stir attention from college coaches.
"It is not all about size," he said. "It is not all on the field, either. It is about being smart as well. ... Hopefully it will work out for me."
Contact Sunday News sports writer Eric G. Stark at estark@lnpnews.com.