Jordan HammBoulder Creek quarterback Bear Milacek has seen his recruitment pick up over the past few months after a strong junior campaign as the featured signal-caller for the Jaguars.
Milacek holds offers from Western Kentucky, Valparaiso, New Mexico and San Diego.
On Saturday, the quarterback announced his commitment to the Lobos of New Mexico.
COMMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF… pic.twitter.com/bjGeccO3NT
— Bear Milacek (@AzQbBeAr6) July 5, 2020
You know the phrase, “A wolf in sheep’s clothing”?
This is more of a bear in wolf’s clothing.
That’s a horrible pun but a huge commitment for Danny Gonzales and his staff. The former ASU defensive coordinator has returned to his roots to help raise the program’s profile and has put a priority on the Grand Canyon State in their recruiting efforts.
“They’re definitely on the uprising for sure,” Milacek said.
New Mexico quarterback coach Jordan Salkin and running backs coach Jordan Somerville led the way on Milacek’s recruitment. The quarterback has known Somerville for close to eight years from playing with Jordan’s younger brother, Saguaro defensive end and Michigan commit Quintin Somerville, over the years. The 6-foot-3, 208-pound pro-style quarterback has also already spent a lot of time virtually with Salkin going over film.
Milacek said the staff as a whole has made him feel like a priority.
“Once I got the offer, their whole staff reached out,” Milacek said. “They were fired up to talk to me and fired up to have me, especially when I committed, the same thing happened. So (the communication) was a big deal to them and their staff.”
When stepping on the field, Milacek plays with a confidence and chip on his shoulder. In 15 games over two years, the quarterback threw for 3,087 yards, 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He rushed for an additional two touchdowns.
He said that chip on his shoulder was motivated by people doubting his ability to play the position growing up. He’s used that doubt as motivation and is now committed to a Division I program.
“A lot of people thought I could not be a good quarterback,” Milacek said. “I heard a lot of the time, ‘You should play tight end. You should play receiver. You have the size.’
“But I just worked for it.”
That hard work won’t stop now that Milacek has made his college decision. The quarterback plans to push himself in the classroom as well as he plans to major in premed when he’s at New Mexico.
The quarterback is the second Lobo commit in the 2021 class from Arizona, joining Basha defensive back Andrell Barney.
Milacek goes in-depth on his commitment and journey at Boulder Creek on this commitment edition of the Venezia’s Pizzeria Recruiting Roundup.
