At Valley Vista, there was never much mystery about where the offense was coming from — if they were moving the ball, it started with quarterback Damir Ilicic Damir Ilicic 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Valley Vista | 2026 State AZ . He threw for over 2,500 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, and every time you watch him — whether it’s on tape or in person — the first thing that jumps out is the arm strength. The ball jumps out of his hand with effortless zip. He can drive deep outs, rip seams, and push the ball vertically in a way that immediately forces defenses to defend every blade of grass. The biggest area of improvement this season, though, wasn’t the power — it was the anticipation. He’s throwing receivers open more often, hitting his drops and cutting it loose on time instead of waiting for routes to fully declare. His footwork in the pocket has always been one of his strengths, letting him buy a few extra beats to throw without needing to be a true running threat, and that foundation shows up on tape snap after snap. He’s not going to be mistaken for a dual‑threat, but he doesn’t need to be when the arm talent and pocket mechanics are this good. On a roster fighting uphill in a loaded 6A landscape, Ilicic was the steady, high‑level passer keeping them alive.

Through the midpoint of his senior season, he’s posted 1,448 yards and 13 touchdowns on 104 of 165 passing attempt. A strong start that lands him third in 6A and backs up a strong junior season as well. Ranked just outside the top 100 overall in the 2026 class and currently holds four college offers.

As a junior threw for 2,237 yards and 21 touchdowns. Smooth arm action with the strength to push the ball vertical, drive it into a tight window at the short/intermediate levels, or be on time to the boundary. A lot of raw ability to build on and is expected to have a big senior year. Ranked just outside the top 100 overall in the PRZ state rankings.

If you’ve seen Damir Ilicic Damir Ilicic 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Valley Vista | 2026 State AZ in action before, you probably know how effortlessly he launches the deep ball. At this camp, he proved he’s more than just a big arm, but still has it when he needs it — winning the deep-ball contest for the second consecutive year. This guy’s upper body technique looks close to textbook, with fluid arm mechanics and a smooth release that makes every pass look like it’s shot out of a cannon. While he’s always had good height, he’s clearly added some weight onto his frame. I get the sense he’s starting to refine the smaller nuances of his game — like reading a defense pre-snap and then adjusting on the fly if a corner drops into coverage. I expect a bit more consistency in his short-to-intermediate throws which could catapult him to new heights this year. The raw tools are there, the confidence is growing, and I see Damir putting it all together for a standout final season of high school ball. Keep him on your radar if you’re hungry for a quarterback who can sling it anywhere on the field.

2026 Quarterback Damir llicic is ready to put the whole state on notice this next season. Finishing off his junior year with a 56% completion percentage, 2,237 passing yards, and 21 passing TDs in his first full season is no easy task. He showed true progress over the season, finishing his last 5 games with 1,211 passing yards and 12 TDs. He airs out the ball with tons of power and velocity, consistently delivering it to his receivers in stride downfield. He is able to throw in multiple different ways, such as standing within the pocket or bootlegging on the run. He has some remarkable touch when throwing over the middle, just getting it over the linebackers and hitting his target right on the money. Despite his team’s struggles last season, Illicic will be a huge asset for his Valley Vista team for his senior year.