Pilarcek flashed in his limited action as a sophomore and seeing a rise in recruitment after earning his initial D1 offer from Northern Arizona. 6’3” 200 lbs. he’s got a well-built frame with natural arm strength and athleticism. That accelerated release and arm strength allows him to throw off different platforms without losing velocity. Demonstrates the ability to mix up speeds and throw a catchable ball, he can throw vertically with touch/trajectory or drive the ball with zip into a tight window at the short/intermediate levels. Works quickly through his reads processing coverage to allow routes to develop and find an open throwing lane. Running ability isn’t the focal point of his game but runs well and is a threat as a ball carrier when necessary. Transferred to Desert Mountain for his junior year and will be one to watch when he gets his opportunity.

Jake Pilarcek Jake Pilarcek 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Desert Mountain | 2028 AZ is just smooth. That was the big thing for me. Some younger quarterbacks look athletic on the move but still feel rushed once they actually have to throw it. Pilarcek doesn’t really have that problem. He looks really comfortable outside the pocket, and the way he gets himself back into throwing position is rare to see at this age. His lower half can be pointed all over the place, but he does a really nice job twisting and re-aligning the top half so the delivery still looks controlled and repeatable. That’s not easy. The arm strength also comes pretty effortlessly. He doesn’t look like he has to strain for juice, and I liked that he was willing to stand in and take a hit to push the ball down the field. But honestly, the part that stood out most was the way he worked through progressions. He didn’t feel locked onto one answer. Even with pressure coming, you don’t see the game speed him up into something careless. He keeps scanning, keeps processing, and when the play gets rushed, he finds a way to avoid the bad decisions. That’s a huge deal. There’s a calmness to his game that makes the athletic traits matter more because they’re attached to real decision-making.