2025 Gabe Jacas EDGE Illinois NFL Draft Report CFBALL

Top 15 nationally in forced fumbles (t-4th, 3) and sacks (t-13th, 6.5); leads the Big Ten in forced fumbles and is tied for second in sacks
Posted a career-high 13 tackles (six solo, seven assisted) to go along with a career-high 2.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for a loss, two QB hurries, and fourth-career forced fumble
Registered eight tackles (four solo, four assisted) against #9 Penn State (9/28/24)
Recorded third career forced fumble against #22 Nebraska (9/20/24)
Forced second career fumble against Central Michigan (9/14/24)
2025 Senior Bowl Watch List

Played in all 12 games with 10 starts (9 at outside linebackers, 1 at defensive line)
Recorded 2.0 sacks, including a third-down stop in overtime that forced an Indiana field goal and set up the Illini’s opportunity for a game-winning TD in the 48-45 win
Season-most five tackles (all solo) at Purdue (9/30/23)
Notched first sack of 2023 season (fifth of career) vs. #7 Penn State (9/16/23)
Only returning Big Ten West player that earned FWAA Freshman All-American honors in 2022
Ranked #69 on The Athletic’s Freaks List
Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten fourth team
Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten fourth team

FWAA Freshman All-American, the second in Illinois history (Akeem Spence) and the first ever Illini true freshman to earn the honor
ESPN True Freshman All-American
247Sports True Freshman All-American
College Football News True Freshman All-American
All-Big Ten honorable mention (media)
Illinois’ Rookie of the Year Award winner
Played in all 13 games as a true freshman with eight starts at outside linebacker
35 tackles, 5.0 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, and five quarterback hurries on the season
No. 2 in Illinois history in sacks by a true freshman behind only Simeon Rice
Tied for 12th in the nation in quarterback hits (13), according to PFF
Tied for the national lead in quarterback hits among freshman (13), according to PFF
Fourth on the team in sacks (4.0)
Fifth on the team in TFLs (5.0)
Career highs in sacks (2.0) and TFLs (2.0) against Virginia 9/10/22
Career-high and team-high eight tackles, including 1.0 sack, against Chattanooga 9/22/22
247Sports Midseason True Freshman All-American
The Athletic Midseason Freshman All-American
On3 Midseason True Freshman All-American
2.0 sacks vs. Virginia, the first Illini true freshman with 2.0 sacks in a game since Bobby Roundtree vs. Western Kentucky in 2017

Three-star recruit by 247Sports, On3, and Rivals
Position ranks: #60 (247), #70 (On3)
State ranks: #116 (On3), #135 (247)
Played for head coach Mike Watkins at Fort Pierce Central
State champion and all-state wrestler
2021-22 TCPalm Male Athlete of the Year
Offers included Georgia Southern, FIU, Mississippi State, South Florida, Tennessee, and Tulane