Gabe Jacas

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Gabe Jacas was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round (55th overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE CAREER STATISTICS

Gabe Jacas played in 50 games in four seasons at Illinois (2022-25) and totaled 183 tackles (97 solo, 86 assists), 27 sacks, 2 passes defensed, 7 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery. His 27 career sacks were the most among active Big Ten defenders in 2025, the second-most in Illinois history and fifth nationally in the FBS.

COLLEGE HONORS AND AWARDS

• 2025 Phil Steele All-America Fourth Team
• 2025 Team Captain
• 2024 Phil Steele All-America Third Team
• 2022 Freshman All-American
• 2022 Illinois Rookie of the Year
• Three-Time All-Big Ten (2022, 2024, 2025)

COLLEGE SEASONAL REVIEWS

Senior Year (2025):

• Started all 12 games and finished with 43 tackles, a Big-Ten leading 11 sacks, 1 pass defensed and 3 forced fumbles.
• Was a team captain.
• Named All-Big Ten and was a Phil Steele All-America Fourth Team selection.
• Led the team with 5 tackles (4 solo, 1 assist), 2.5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks and a forced fumble in Week 1 victory vs. Western Illinois (8/29).
• Had 4 tackles (3 solo, 1 assist) with 2 sacks in win vs. Rutgers (11/1).
• Recorded a season-high 6 tackles (4 solo, 2 assists) with 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and a QB hurry at Wisconsin (11/22).
• Had 4 tackles (2 solo, 2 assists) with 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 2 QB hurries in rivalry win vs. Northwestern (11/29).

Junior Year (2024):

• Started all 13 games and finished with 74 tackles (38 solo, 36 assists), 8 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.
• Named All-Big Ten Third Team and was a Phil Steele All-America Third Team selection.
• Finished the regular season ranked in the top 25 nationally in forced fumbles (3, 21^st) and sacks (8, 24^th).
• Tied for the Big-Ten lead in forced fumbles and ranked fifth in sacks.
• Has his second and third career forced fumbles vs. Central Michigan (9/14) and at No. 22 Nebraska (9/20), respectively.
• Had a career-high 13 tackles (6 solo, 7 assists) with a career-high 2.5sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 QB hurries, and fourth-career forced fumble vs. #24 Michigan (10/19).
• Recorded a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss and 8 total tackles in Illinois' Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win over #14 South Carolina (12/31).

Sophomore Year (2023):

• Played in all 12 games with 10 starts, nine at outside linebacker and one at defensive line. Finished with 31 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 pass defensed and 1 forced fumble.
• Recorded his first sack of 2023 season and the fifth of his career vs. #7 Penn State (9/16).
• Notched 2 sacks vs. Indiana (11/11), 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.

Freshman Year (2022):

• Played in all 13 games with eight starts and totaled 35 tackles and 4 sacks.
• Named All-Big Ten and a Freshman All-American.
• Was the first ever Illini true freshman to ever earn FWAA Freshman All-American honors and the second in Illinois history.
• Tied for 12^th in the nation with 13 quarterback hits, according to PFF.
• Had 2 sacks vs. Virginia (9/10), the first Illinois true freshman with 2 sacks in a game since Bobby Roundtree vs. Western Kentucky in 2017.

PERSONAL

• Three-star recruit by 247Sports, On3 and Rivals.
• Was also a state champion and All-State wrestler.
• Was the 2021-22 TCPalm Male Athlete of the Year.
• Brother, Khaliq, played football at Florida International University.