Gabe Jacas
Gabe Jacas
Fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge. This is his fourth year in the same linebacker corps at Illinois. Two straight seasons of it now: All-Big Ten again in 2025. The receipt on tape: 6 tackles, 2.5 TFL against Wisconsin, Week 13, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- recognition record
- game log
How it ended
Four seasons at Illinois, 178 tackles — drafted at #55 overall by New England.
Career Arc
Trophy Case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-CONFERENCE
All-Conf mention (2025)
All-Big Ten
Coaching Lineage · 2022–2025
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Bret Bielema.
Where He Ended Up · NFL
New England2026 NFL rookie season
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Bret Bielema
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 3 · RecognizedR09 · All-Conference HM / 2nd team
All-Conference HM / 2nd team. Conference recognition has started.
Recognition
Production
Trophy Case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-CONFERENCE
All-Conf mention (2025)
All-Big Ten
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 5 · 2025
W 34–32
vs USC
4 TOT · 1 SOLO · 0 SACKS
Edged out USC at home in a shootout.
How he plays
Play style
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Thumper
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Matayo Uiagalelei’s 2024 season.
Matches Matayo on
Differs from Matayo on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Elijah Roberts's senior season at SMU (2023).
Matches Elijah on
Differs from Elijah on