Gabe Jacas

PRONOUNCED ACK-iss

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

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

COLLEGE CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 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.
• 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 (23 solo, 20 assists), 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), 21/2 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 21/2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and a QB hurry at Wisconsin (11/22).
• Had 4 tackles (2 solo, 2 assists) with 21/2 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, 21st) and sacks (8, 24th).
• 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 21/2 sacks, 21/2 tackles for loss, 2 QB hurries, and fourth-career forced fumble vs. #24 Michigan (10/19).
• Recorded a career-high 3 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 12th 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.