From Youth Football to a Major Recruiting Spotlight, Jackson Stecher’s Journey Is Just Getting Started

Before Jackson Stecher became one of Central Florida’s most talked-about quarterback prospects, he was a young running back playing Pop Warner football at Dr. Phillips. His athletic ability was obvious, but becoming a quarterback was still a work in progress.

Longtime quarterback trainer Baylin Trujillo remembers meeting Stecher when he was in first grade. Even then, his father believed his son had the arm talent and athleticism to eventually become a special quarterback.

“He was just such a good athlete,” Trujillo told ESOne. “Now it was my job to develop him as a quarterback and put it all together.”

Years later, that development has turned Stecher into one of the more intriguing quarterbacks in the 2028 recruiting class.

Stecher helped The Master’s Academy capture back-to-back SSAA state championships in 2023 and 2024 before following head coach Garrett Kruczek to Lake Brantley.

The transition brought tougher competition and a different kind of adversity. While the team has experienced its share of struggles, Stecher continues to produce. According to MaxPreps, the junior has recorded 1,894 passing yards and 14 passing touchdowns across seven reported games in 2026, following a sophomore season of 2,316 passing yards and 20 touchdowns.

For Trujillo, however, statistics only tell part of the story.

“Jackson Stecher is an absolute elite phenom,” Trujillo said, highlighting his arm talent, mobility and ability to create plays outside the pocket.

Stecher’s development has also benefited from working with Kruczek and offensive coordinator Mike Kruczek, a former UCF quarterback and coach.

Why Buffalo?

With opportunities from programs including Florida State, Florida and UCF, Stecher’s decision to commit to Buffalo raised questions about why a highly recruited quarterback would choose a Group of Five program.

According to Trujillo, it came down to relationships and opportunity.

Stecher developed a connection with Buffalo offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tony Tokarz while Tokarz was at Florida State. When Tokarz moved to Buffalo, that relationship continued.

“It’s all about relationships,” Trujillo explained.

The trainer believes Stecher’s best path is finding a program where he can compete for playing time early rather than becoming buried on a crowded quarterback depth chart.

But another major program has reportedly entered the conversation.

Oregon Enters the Picture

In his conversation with ESOne, Trujillo revealed that Oregon has recently contacted him about Stecher.

“Oregon has reached out to me recently,” Trujillo said. “He’s still firmly committed to Buffalo, but Oregon is pushing really hard.”

According to Trujillo, the Ducks are attempting to get Stecher on campus for a visit. There has been no announced change to his Buffalo commitment.

For a quarterback who started his football journey making plays with his legs, the growing recruiting attention reflects years of development, hard work and preparation.

Whether Stecher ultimately stays with Buffalo or considers another opportunity, one thing is clear: his journey is far from finished.

And with another high school season still ahead of him, Jackson Stecher’s next chapter could be his biggest yet.