The call came on a quiet day at home, unexpected but life-changing.
Ivan De Silva, the standout senior edge rusher from Placer High School, picked up the phone to hear Air Force extend an offer: a scholarship to play football at one of the most prestigious programs in the country. For De Silva, the moment was surreal.
“I wasn’t expecting the offer,” De Silva said, still marveling at the memory. “He was just asking if I had any questions about the school, and then he was like, ‘Well, we’d like to offer you,’ and I was just like, ‘Oh wow.’ It’s just amazing.”
Committing to Air Force wasn’t just about playing Division I football. it was a decision about his future, both on and off the field. With a guaranteed career path after graduation and the possibility of chasing NFL dreams, the choice checked every box.
De Silva ultimately committed there last week and signed his national letter of intent Thursday.
“There’s so much to it,” De Silva said. “For my future especially – it gives me a guaranteed job for the five years after I graduate, and I still have a chance at going to the draft. It just seemed like the best option for me.”
Air Force wasn’t always on De Silva’s radar.
The conversations began roughly eight months ago, but the opportunity still felt like a surprise when it materialized. For De Silva, who spent his high school career grinding on and off the field, it was a testament to his work ethic and commitment.
The consensus three-star prospect and 6’6, 260-pound force also garnered offers from Cornell and Northern Arizona, but Air Force – a program with numerous other Sacramento-area products on the roster, like Caleb Dixon (Jesuit) and Matt Long (Vista del Lago) – felt like the perfect fit.
“It’s just putting in all that extra work,” De Silva said. “Waking up early on weekends, when other people are out doing other things, staying out late playing video games—just putting in that extra work. Even something as little as messaging people on Twitter. It all goes a long way if you actually take the time and put the work in.”
That drive defined De Silva’s time at Placer High School, where he became a cornerstone of a program steeped in tradition. Walking through the campus and past the banners in the gym, you can feel the weight of history, a legacy De Silva will soon join.
“It just feels like everyone, with that tradition, comes almost like a family,” De Silva said. “It’s like the stuff is passed down throughout each class that graduates, and it just keeps living throughout all of this.”
The decision to commit to Air Force, and by extension a future in the military, is not one every athlete would make. The unique demands of the academy require more than just athletic talent. They demand discipline, resilience and a willingness to serve.
For De Silva, the commitment was made easier once he learned more about what life at Air Force would entail.
“It’s not what I thought it was originally,” De Silva admitted. “You still do basic training and boot camp and all that, and I know that’ll be a struggle, but I know I can get through it. The service part is like me working a job for them, which wasn’t what I thought. I thought it’d be like going out to serve on the front lines. So it was definitely easier to commit that way.”
De Silva’s career at Placer was more than just numbers on a stat sheet. It was about the bonds he formed, the lessons he learned, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind. His favorite memories aren’t singular moments. They’re tied to the people and the program that shaped him.
Placer won numerous league titles under his watch and advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 4 semifinals as a senior.
“Everything,” he said when asked about his favorite part of his time at Placer. “The tradition, the players, the coaches. It’s all so great. It’s hard to pinpoint one moment.”
As he looks ahead to Air Force, De Silva hopes to leave behind a culture of hard work and dedication.
The future is set: De Silva is set to report to Air Force’s basic training in June, followed by practice. While he’s unsure of what his career after football might look like, he plans to major in business, a decision he hopes will open doors down the line.
Right now, though, he’s focused on cherishing his final moments at Placer and preparing for the next chapter. As he reflects on his journey, he knows he’ll miss the brotherhood he built most of all.
“The people I’ve played with. That’s the biggest thing,” De Silva said. “The brotherhood and the friends. That’s what I’m going to miss the most.”
As De Silva prepares to take his talents to Air Force, he carries with him the lessons learned at Placer, the dreams of a professional career and the discipline to succeed in whatever path he chooses.
And to savor every single moment.
“It’s just crazy,” De Silva said, thinking back to his commitment. “I’ve wanted this for so long, and it’s finally happening.”
