Former Buffalo FB Players Blake Hiligh, Zachary Pilarcek Charged with Animal Cruelty
Jun 30, 2023
BUFFALO, NY - SEPTEMBER 18: A view of a Buffalo Bulls players helmet on the bench during a game against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at UB Stadium on September 18, 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
Former University of Buffalo football players Blake Hiligh and Zachary Pilarcek have been charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty after they were seen on video allegedly beating a dog with a belt.
In a press release from Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn, Hiligh and Pilarcek were formally charged with overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, and failure to provide proper sustenance.
The dog, a four-year-old miniature poodle named Kobe, was transported to the SPCA and remains under their care. He was treated for bruises and abrasions.
Per TMZ Sports, both men pleaded not guilty, and Hiligh's attorney spoke to reporters after the arraignment.
"My client regrets the actions," the attorney said. "We love our dogs. We love our pets. Sometimes they do frustrate us. Sometimes we do discipline them sometimes. I don't believe it was in a cruel manner."
Per the D.A.'s press release, the alleged incident took place on June 13 around 9 p.m. local time and the SPCA Serving Erie County seized the dog the following day.
Both men face a maximum one-year prison sentence if they are convicted of the charge.
Pilarcek is scheduled for a court appearance on July 27 at 9:30 a.m. local time. Hiligh is due back in court on Aug. 3 for further proceedings. They were released from custody since the charge is a non-qualifying offense for bail.
TMZ noted prosecutors said Hiligh and Pilarcek were dismissed from the Bulls football team as a result of the alleged incident.
Hiligh, 19, plays cornerback and was going into his redshirt freshman season. Pilarcek, 20, didn't appear in a game for the Bulls as a freshman in 2022.
Top Highlights of Buffalo RB Jaret Patterson's Historic Day vs. Kent State
Nov 28, 2020
FILE - In this Sept. 7, 2019, file photo, Buffalo running back Jaret Patterson (26) carries the ball during an NCAA college football game against Penn State in State College, Pa. Patterson's 31 career rushing touchdowns are just four short of breaking the school record held by former NFLer James Starks. What's equally impressive, is how sophomore running back has combined for 490 yards and 11 touchdowns (one receiving) in his past two games alone. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano, File)
University at Buffalo junior running back Jaret Patterson turned in one of the greatest rushing performances in college football history Saturday, running for 409 yards and eight touchdowns in a 70-41 win over the Kent State Golden Flashes.
Patterson set the single-game Mid-American Conference and Buffalo records for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. He also tied Illinois running back Howard Griffith for the single-game FBS rushing touchdown record and finished with the second-most rushing yards by an FBS player in a single game.
He surpassed former Wisconsin and current Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon for second place on the single-game rushing yardage list and fell just 18 yards short of matching former Oklahoma and current Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine's record of 427 yards.
Additionally, Patterson became only the second player in FBS history to rush for 300 or more yards in consecutive games, joining Ricky Williams, who accomplished the feat in 1996 for Texas.
Patterson, who entered the game with 511 yards and eight touchdowns in just three contests for the now-4-0 Bulls, padded his stats in a big way against 3-1 Kent State.
The Glendale, Maryland, native accounted for each of Buffalo's five first-half touchdowns, as he scored on runs of three, 31, 42, 49 and one yards, and also rushed for 267 yards on 18 carries in the first half:
Jaret Patterson is wearing the No. 41 today to honor Solomon Jackson who passed away in 2016. Patterson today has 4 rushes for 101 yards and 2 TDs. pic.twitter.com/wh49C7YpZi
By virtue of Patterson's dominance, UB entered the locker room with a 35-24 lead in a game that was huge in deciding which team represents the East division in the MAC title game.
With Patterson leading the way, Buffalo rushed for 293 yards in the first half and racked up 389 yards of offense.
Patterson could have stopped there, but he was far from done, as he rushed for 142 more yards and three more touchdowns in the second half.
The record-setting running back's second-half touchdowns came from seven, 11 and 58 yards out:
Jaret Patterson ties his career high for rushing touchdowns in a game with SIX!! pic.twitter.com/GGXD3m84ap
Patterson had a chance to break the FBS single-game rushing yardage and touchdown records on UB's final drive, but head coach Lance Leipold pulled him in favor of backup Kevin Marks, who rushed for 97 yards and two scores on the day.
Overall, UB rushed for 515 yards as a team and gained 663 total yards. It also took firm control of the MAC East and is currently in line to play for the MAC title.
While Patterson will not receive Heisman Trophy consideration since he plays in the MAC and the Bulls will play no more than seven games, it can be argued there is no better running back in college football.
Patterson will almost certainly shatter most career UB rushing records if he returns in 2021 for his senior season, though he could be one of the top backs off the board in the 2021 NFL draft.
Regardless of what the future holds for Patterson, Buffalo's success in the 2020 campaign rests solely with his legs.
'Boom or Bust': Why Tyree Jackson Is the Draft's Most Intriguing QB Prospect
Apr 18, 2019
MOBILE, ALABAMA - DECEMBER 22: Tyree Jackson #3 of the Buffalo Bulls throws the ball during the first half of the Dollar General Bowl against the Troy Trojans on December 22, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Hour after hour, Tyree Jackson would sit watching YouTube highlights of great quarterbacks at his home in Norton Shores, Michigan. Tom Brady was a favorite. Jackson would watch the way he moved. The angle of his arm. How he gripped the ball. He'd memorize every detail. Then he'd move to the backyard, where he had a tire hanging by a rope from a tree, and throw and throw and throw and turn himself into a quarterback.
That's how he built the arm that led to one of the greatest careers in Michigan high school history, starting all four years at Mona Shores High and finishing fourth in state history in yardage and third in touchdowns. The arm that got him recruited by the University of Buffalo, where he started as a redshirt freshman and earned MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors for his 2018 junior season. The arm makes him potentially the biggest surprise of the 2019 NFL draft class.
But that also is the source of the biggest concern over Jackson as a prospect—the reason he'd be viewed as a surprise and not a lock despite his arm strength, drive, size (6'7", 249 lbs) and combine results that have been making NFL coaches and scouts drool.
Most elite quarterback prospects work with private coaches from an early age to hone their instincts and technique. Jackson? "The first time he was ever on the field with a private QB coach was last July at the age of 20," says former NFL QB Jordan Palmer, the private coach working with Jackson now.
Will all those years of figuring it out on his own lead to debilitating issues at the pro level?
Palmer thinks it could actually be the opposite. "Tyree had a very limited development history, so he was able to make big gains in a short period," he says. "He's incredibly thorough, hungry and athletic. That allows him to improve really quickly."
My latest mock draft has Jackson as a third-rounder. He could be the type of player a team overpays for and ends up getting a scouting staff fired. Or, if Palmer's right, he could be the steal of the draft that late.
"Incredible where he could go with this," Palmer says.
The 2019 Senior Bowl roster was set. Executive director Jim Nagy had already put together an impressive roster of eight quarterbacks—the max in previous seasons—who would come to Mobile, Alabama, to work out for NFL teams' scouts and coaches.
Then Jackson decided to enter the draft following his redshirt junior season.
"He was too talented not to bring to Mobile," Nagy says. "In terms of pure tools, he is one of the most intriguing players, regardless of position, in this year's draft."
So Nagy broke the eight-quarterback rule, and in late January, Jackson took Mobile by storm.
Jackson's play seemed to improve daily, even though he was throwing to unfamiliar wide receivers and playing in uncooperative weather. And he impressed on a personal level too. "After spending a week with him down in Mobile, I can tell you he's got great energy about him...the type of guy that can connect with different types of people, which is critical for the QB position," Nagy says.
His draft stock started to climb.
Then in late February, when the NFL took over Indianapolis for the scouting combine, folks really woke up to his awesome potential.
One quarterback coach approached me in a crowded bar the night before the QB workouts there, just to pull me close and say: "Get Tyree up your board. He's going to dominate here."
And he did.
Jackson ran a 4.59 second 40-yard dash—the same number Cam Newton posted at the 2011 combine. And Jackson is even bigger than Newton, who measured in at 6'5", 248 pounds in '11.
Per the NFL database at MockDraftable.com, Jackson's 40-yard dash performance put him in the 91st percentile for quarterbacks who have worked out at the combine. In fact, he was in the 90th percentile or higher for his height, weight, wingspan, arm length, hand size, 40 and broad jump:
"Everyone thinks Josh Allen was this great athlete last year," one coach told B/R after Jackson's jaw-dropping performance in Indianapolis, "but let me tell you: Jackson is better."
Allen is a common comparison for Jackson, given their size, athleticism, small-school backgrounds and arm strength that scouts describe as the strongest they've ever seen. Patrick Mahomes and Newton are the only other NFL quarterbacks they see as having similar arm strength. And it's not just Jackson's ability to launch a deep ball but also his velocity and accuracy in throwing underneath that distinguish him.
During combine workouts, NFL Network analyst and former All-Pro receiver Steve Smith Sr. even approached Jackson to tell him he was throwing too hard—something no one had ever seen during the on-field workouts in Indianapolis.
Par for the course for Jackson.
"I've worked with some of the brightest young QBs in the NFL, and Tyree's upside is unparalleled," Palmer says. "His size, arm talent and instincts put him on a trajectory that I haven't seen since Patrick Mahomes was a soph at Texas Tech."
Adds Nagy, "He's big, athletic, and he has a hose for an arm."
That simple? Of course not.
Traits matter, and Jackson's blend of size, speed, arm strength and personality are enticing enough to excite evaluators who see elite-level athleticism and arm talent. But overlooking the weaknesses in his game when your job is on the line is another story.
All of those traits will mean nothing if there isn't accuracy to go with them. And that's where NFL scouts get worried about Jackson.
"[Jackson] is scary because you saw him against these small-school dudes, and he still couldn't hit 60 [percent] of his passes," one scout says. "Yeah, he has a big arm, but he's not NFL-ready, and accuracy is one thing you can't coach up."
Making the throws isn't a problem with Jackson's arm strength, but getting the ball in the right area code has indeed been troublesome. His career completion percentage of 55.8 is well below the threshold the league likes (60 percent). And even in his breakout junior season, his 28 touchdowns and 3,131 yards came on 225 of his 407 passing attempts (55.3 percent).
That's why NFL teams need to be prepared for the prospect of his accuracy not improving, which is why an elite athlete with an arm that will immediately be top-five in the NFL is considered a Day 2 or Day 3 prospect.
It's also why phrases like "boom or bust" come up often when evaluators talk about Jackson.
"Traits" is a dirty word when talking to some coaches.
Says one AFC team's quarterbacks coach: "Traits get you fired, man. You can talk about traits in the media, but we want guys who've shown they can make the throws."
Still, betting on a player with some obvious traits but also areas of less certainty has worked before.
Most evaluators considered Mahomes a second-round pick before the Chiefs traded up to draft him No. 10 overall. Cam Newton was drafted first overall based on his athletic marvels and the belief in his upside as an athlete and a passer after starting just one year at Auburn. Russell Wilson fell to the third round because he lacked ideal height at 5'11", but the Seahawks saw his leadership and football IQ traits, plus a world-class arm to go with elite speed, and let him start as a rookie.
Is Jackson the next in that line?
"There is some rawness that will put him in the developmental category for most teams," Nagy says. "But he has the personality and the smarts, so some team is going to want to invest time into him."
The difference between one of these bets paying off and not can come down to the particular player's work ethic—his desire to improve in the areas of need.
The young man who trained himself to be a quarterback with YouTube, a rope and a tire ended up at Buffalo—bypassed by all the in-state colleges and Power Five schools in his recruitment process.
And if his lack of traditional QB grooming makes him more of a question mark than an answer for teams, it's also the reason not to doubt his ability to improve. He will always have the drive.
As Jackson told NFL.com's Brooke Cersosimo at the NFL combine, "I'll always have a chip on my shoulder, being from a small school."
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 26: Quarterback Tyree Jackson #3 of Buffalo of the South Team during the 2019 Resse's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 26, 2019 in Mobile, Alabama. The North defeated the South 34 to 24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Im
Palmer sees it too. "The chip on Tyree's shoulder is massive," he says. "No one recruited him, everyone doubted him, and he continues to take what's given to him and create opportunity in what's not given."
Heading into the draft, it's more of the same. Jackson's arm is better than that of Missouri's Drew Lock, who has similar accuracy concerns. He's bigger and faster than Duke's Daniel Jones. And yet those QBs, coming out of the SEC and ACC, respectively, are first-round locks. Jackson's not.
He doesn't need to figure it out on his own anymore. He has Palmer, and soon he'll have an entire organization around him committed to helping him succeed.
Incredible where he could go with this.
Matt Miller covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @nfldraftscout.
Buzz About Khalil Mack as 2014 NFL Draft Approaches
Mar 10, 2014
Buffalo's Khalil Mack (46) walks off the field following their 20-6 loss to Pittsburgh in an NCAA college football game in Amherst, N.Y., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Khalil Mack is taking the 2014 NFL draft by storm. He has emerged as one of the elite prospects in this year’s draft.
Mack—who is from the University oat Buffalo—will likely be the only player coming to the NFL from Buffalo. Says Bills beat reporter Joe Buscaglia via Twitter:
Mack is a rare alumni of Buffalo, as he will become only the fourth player from the school to currently be in the NFL. He will almost certainly be the school’s only NFL starter when next season starts.
Mack has come very far. According to an article in The Spectrum written by Carey Breyer about Khalil Mack as a redshirt freshman, he had quit his high school football team in his first year. He rejoined the team his junior year after a coaching change and that coach's keen interest in Mack. He almost never went to Buffalo either, the school paper says,
Mack grew very close to Liberty coach Robert Wimberly. Wimberly had made such an impression, that Mack was all but ready to make his decision to attend Liberty and play football for the Flames. However, late in the process, Wimberly took a job coaching under former Bulls head coach Turner Gill. Mack was more concerned with the coach than the school, so he decided that Buffalo was the place for him.
He went from barely making it to Division I to becoming one of the best pass rushers in the country. His stats steadily increased throughout his college career, which shows that he is only getting better. He had career highs this past season in tackles, sacks, interceptions and forced fumbles.
You can just hop on Twitter to see the buzz around Khalil Mack.
Some are saying that Khalil Mack is even better than the famous Jadeveon Clowney.
After his pro day, his athleticism was undeniable.
Many people are expecting that Mack will not make it out of the top five picks of the draft.
He is even already getting Pro Bowl player comparisons.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 24: Former Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack runs the 40-yard dash during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 24, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
What you have to say is a bit more valuable than you might think JQ.
Buffalo vs. Ohio State: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More
Aug 31, 2013
The Ohio State Buckeyes will look to stay undefeated in the Urban Meyer era on Saturday when the Buffalo Bulls visit Columbus.
Ranked as the No. 2 team in the nation to start the year in both the USA Today coaches poll and AP Top 25 poll, the Buckeyes are expected to contend for the national championship this season after being ineligible to do so in 2012.
As noted by ESPN's Stats & Info, history certainly sides with Meyer's team accomplishing something close to that task:
The first obstacle toward that end game is Buffalo, which finished 4-8 in head coach Jeff Quinn's third season with the MAC program.
Quinn has increased the program win total by one each of the last two seasons after a disastrous start in 2010 (2-10), but needs to continue to trend upward to avoid landing on the hot seat.
Regardless of the outcome, Buffalo will be taking home a nice sum from Ohio State to cover their travel expenses (and more) during Week 1. The AP Top 25 Twitter account had that scoop earlier this month:
Although the Buckeyes are expected to dominate the Bulls on Saturday, nothing is ever taken for granted in college football. In preparation for one of the games that will get the new college football season going, check out our preview as Buffalo prepares to tangle with Ohio State.
Licata took over for Alex Zordich toward the end of the 2012-13 season, and success quickly followed for the Bulls.
The sophomore QB ripped off three straight wins over Miami (Ohio), Western Michigan and Massachusetts in his first three starts of the year; three of Buffalo's four wins in 2012 are connected to Licata as the starter.
As you can see in this tweet from Joey Kaufman of The Columbus Dispatch, Licata put up solid numbers as a freshman when he took over for Zordich:
Quinn named the New York native his starter coming out of spring practice, and if Buffalo wants to remain competitive against Ohio State throughout the course of the game, Licata needs to shine in his first 2013 start.
As noted by MAC spokesman Ken Mather, the Bulls believe in their young signal-caller:
Returning nine starters on offense, Buffalo is actually a fairly experienced team. All of their starters on the post-spring depth chart are either juniors or seniors with the exception of Licata and wideout Marcus McGill.
Top running back Branden Oliver and top receiver Alex Neutz are big time weapons for Buffalo, and Licata will have a solid group of skill players to distribute the ball to against Ohio State.
In true trial by fire fashion, Buffalo will get a chance to see how far their young QB has progressed over the past nine months when he takes the field against Ohio State—easily the most prestigious opponent Licata will have faced to date.
Miller is an early-season Heisman candidate, a designation that makes games against non-conference opponents like Buffalo vitally important.
College football players win the Heisman with big plays over big time opponents, but not playing to the level of one's competition is also something those who have hoisted the trophy have avoided.
Expect Miller to have a big game with his arm and his feet on Saturday.
A threat to score via both the read-option or the long pass, Miller blossomed under Meyer in 2012. He threw for 2,039 yards in the air and added another 1,271 on the ground en route to 28 total touchdowns.
Returning starters Corey Brown and Devin Smith give Miller two playmaking targets on the outside, and the QB will be instrumental in establishing the run while setting his offense up for an aerial attack at various points in the game.
For Ohio State to win a national championship, more players will have to step up than just the team's starting QB. In Week 1, though, Miller can set a precedence of success his teammates will follow all year.
Key Matchup: Ohio State Offensive Line vs. Buffalo Front Seven
Even without top running back Carlos Hyde, who was suspended for the first three games of the season, we can expect the Ohio State offense to prioritize running the ball well.
The Buckeyes were 10th in the nation in rushing yards per game last year, recording 242.3 yards a contest in non-conference and Big Ten action.
Between Miller, backup-turned-starter Jordan Hall and whomever else Meyer sees fit to run the ball against Buffalo, we can expect the Ohio State offense to lean heavily on the run to set up the pass.
That makes the trenches vitally important for both sides.
If the Buffalo front seven is creating pressure and forcing Ohio State to alter its game plan, the Shoe could be very quiet over the first two quarters. For Buffalo to have any chance of keeping pace with Ohio State through halftime, the front seven must create pressure and disrupt Meyer's offensive scheme.
Prediction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS5feXR3n8g
Ohio State is expected to do big things this year.
Coming off an undefeated season, given big billing for the upcoming campaign and featuring a Heisman candidate on offense, Buckeyes fans everywhere are considering 2013 a BCS title-or-bust season.
Buffalo is the first obstacle to that end game.
The Bulls have a chance to improve under Quinn for the third straight season, but they will be outmatched by the Buckeyes on both sides of the ball and struggle to maintain consistent effort for four quarters.
On Sunday morning, Ohio State will still be undefeated under Meyer.
Turner Gill left for Kansas in 2009 and it was 2008 where the Bulls appeared in the program’s first bowl in program history since becoming an FBS Division IA team...
Free College Football Pick Buffalo Bulls Vs. Connecticut Huskies 9-25-10
The Buffalo Bulls and the Connecticut Huskies will both be gunning for a victory on Saturday when they meet at Rentschler Field.
Oddsmakers currently have the Huskies listed as 20-point favorites versus the Bulls, while the game's total is sitting at 48½.
Buffalo lost its last outing, a 24-10 result against Central Florida on September 18. Buffalo failed to cover in that game as a 7.5-point underdog, while the 34 combined points took the game UNDER the total.
In their last action, Connecticut was a 30-16 loser on the road against Temple. They failed to cover the 5–point spread as favorites, while the combined score (46) was profitable news for UNDER bettors.
Current streak: Buffalo has lost 2 straight games.
Team records: Buffalo: 1-2 SU, 0-2 ATS Connecticut: 1-2 SU, 0-2 ATS
Buffalo most recently: When playing in September are 3-7 When playing on grass are 1-9 After outgaining opponent are 5-5 When playing outside the conference are 4-6
Connecticut most recently: When playing in September are 7-3 When playing on grass are 7-3 After outgaining opponent are 2-8 When playing outside the conference are 7-3
A few trends to consider: Buffalo is 12-4-1 ATS in its last 17 games on the road The total has gone OVER in 8 of Buffalo's last 12 games on the road Buffalo is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road Buffalo is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road Connecticut is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Buffalo Connecticut is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home Connecticut is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Buffalo Connecticut is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Next up: Buffalo at Bowling Green, Saturday, October 2 Connecticut home to Vanderbilt, Saturday, October 2
Dr. Bob's Betting Advice For BUFFALO (-1.5) Vs. OHIO
Nov 10, 2009
Ohio 26 BUFFALO (-1.5) 24
Over/Under Total: 46.0
04:00 PM Pacific Time Tuesday, Nov-10
Buffalo will be without top back Ike Nduka (598 yards at 6.2 ypr) but freshman Jeffvon Gill ran for 172 yards on 23 carries last week in his first extensive time, so Nduka may not be missed. Bulls' quarterback Zach Maynard will miss the first quarter due to suspension, but Buffalo will probably run the ball more with backup Jerry Davis in and that probably won't hurt too much since I expect Buffalo to average 5.0 yards per rushing play in this game.
Ohio defends the pass pretty well (5.4 yards per pass play allowed to quarterbacks that would average 5.6 yppp against an average team), but Maynard is a pretty decent passing quarterback (6.4 yppp against teams that would allow 6.4 yppp to an average QB), so the Bulls should move the ball at about an average rate in this game.
Ohio is 0.5 yards per play worse than average offensively (5.2 yppl against teams that would allow 5.7 yppl to an average team) but Buffalo is 0.5 yppl worse than average defensively (5.7 yppl allowed to teams that would average 5.2 yppl), so Ohio should also be able to move the ball. The big difference in this game is special teams, which is an area that Buffalo really struggles in and Ohio's good field goal kicker or Buffalo's bad one could be the difference in what should be a close game. I'll lean with Ohio.
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Dr. Bob's Betting Advice For BUFFALO -(3.5) Vs. BOWLING GREEN
Nov 3, 2009
Bowling Green 27 BUFFALO (-3.5) 26
Over/Under Total: 53.5
04:00 PM Pacific Time Tuesday, Nov-03
Bowling Green's defense was good early in the season before their best defensive player, safety P.J. Mahone, was suspended. Mahone was Bowling Green's top tackler last season and led the team this season with 21 tackles in just 2 games. Mahone's has been reinstated and will play tonight. How much he plays is a question, but he's been practicing with the team the last two weeks and should be ready to take on close to his normal work load.
If that's the case then I like Bowling Green here in a mini upset, especially if Buffalo RB Ike Nduka is held out or limited with his injured ankle. Nduka leads the team in rushing and has averaged an impressive 6.5 ypr on his 88 carries this season while the other two Bulls' backs, who are also both questionable with ankle injuries, combine to average just 3.7 ypr on their 131 rushes.
My math model would favor Buffalo by 3 points if Nduka gets the 20 carries that he's averaged as a starter in recent weeks (when healthy) and if he plays at his normal level. Neither of those things is likely and I'd favor Bowling Green to win if Nduka doesn't play at all. The line value is on the side of Bowling Green in this one and I'll lean with the Falcons plus the points.
