Illinois football news: OLB Gabe Jacas announces return for senior season

NEWS: Illinois football outside linebacker, Gabe Jacas, has announced his decision to return for his senior season. Jacas was a star on the defensive line this season, totaling 39 tackles, 8 sacks, and 3 fumbles forced. The junior outside backer weighed his decision to enter the 2025 NFL draft, however, he will instead return to Champaign for one more ride with the Illini. During the 2024 season, Jacas earned third-team all-Big Ten honors. He will certainly be one of the premier linemen in the Big Ten next year as a senior. Alongside Jacas will likely be rising senior Alec Bryant, as OLB Seth Coleman is to graduate this upcoming spring.

Additionally, the Illini brought in EDGE rusher Leon Lowery Jr. from Wisconsin who will help add depth alongside Jojo Hayden and Daniel Brown. If Jacas can improve on his junior season, he certainly has the measurables to be an early-round NFL Draft pick.

More good news for the Illini.

Jacas’s decision adds more good news for Illinois football. So far, they have received word that they will return star QB Luke Altymer, Offensive tackle J.C. Davis, and defensive back Xavier Scott.  Heading into the 2025 season, the Illini will be returning 18 total starters from the team that won the Cheez-it Citrus Bowl. After a historic ten win season, Bret Bielema and his staff have successfully retained a majority of their key players in the band. Though they will need to work hard to build some depth in the trenches, they have already made inroads on replacing star receiver, Pat Bryant.

 

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