Gabe Jacas Caps Dominant Season with First Team All-Big Ten Honors
CHAMPAIGN - Gabe Jacas isn’t just closing out his Illinois career with a bang - he’s cementing his name in the program’s record books. The senior outside linebacker was named First Team All-Big Ten by the media and earned Second Team honors from the conference’s coaches, a fitting recognition for one of the most disruptive defenders in the Big Ten this season.
This marks the fifth straight year Illinois has produced a First Team All-Big Ten defensive selection, and under head coach Bret Bielema, Jacas becomes the seventh Illini defender to earn that distinction. It’s a testament to what Bielema has built on that side of the ball - a defense that doesn’t just compete, but consistently churns out elite talent.
And Jacas? He’s been the engine of that defense in 2025.
Let’s talk numbers. Jacas led the Big Ten in sacks during the regular season with 11.0 - a mark that not only put him atop the conference but also placed him among the best pass rushers in the country.
His 13.5 tackles for loss tied him for second in the Big Ten, and he forced three fumbles, good enough to tie for third in that category. According to Pro Football Focus, he generated 42 quarterback pressures - fourth-most in the Big Ten and 25th nationally.
That kind of production doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of a relentless motor, elite bend off the edge, and a physical style of play that makes life miserable for opposing tackles.
Jacas’ name now sits alongside some of the most iconic pass rushers in Illinois history. He’s just the fifth Illini player ever to record double-digit sacks in a single season - joining names like Simeon Rice, Whitney Mercilus, Scott Davis and Mike Poloskey.
That’s elite company. Rice, of course, still holds the Illinois and Big Ten record for career sacks (44.5), but Jacas is climbing that ladder fast.
With 27.0 career sacks, Jacas now ranks second all-time in program history. He’s also ninth in career tackles for loss (35.5) and tied for sixth in forced fumbles (7).
And remember - this is a guy who was a Third Team All-Big Ten pick just last season. The leap he made this year wasn’t just noticeable - it was dominant.
“Second career [in sacks] is special,” Jacas said. “I wanted to create a legacy here, and I definitely did that.
I obviously wanted that first, but God has other plans. Still grateful and blessed that God put me in a position.
He’s kept me healthy throughout these four years and I’m grateful that each game I come out healthy and finish it not only for my team but for the guys who came before me and my family.”
That legacy is undeniable. Jacas has become the latest in a growing line of defensive stars to come through Champaign under Bielema.
Since 2021, Illinois has produced First Team All-Big Ten defenders like Kerby Joseph (2021), Devon Witherspoon and Sydney Brown (2022), Johnny Newton (2022, 2023), and Xavier Scott (2024). Jacas now takes his place among them - and may very well be the best NFL prospect of the bunch.
“When he is an engaged rusher, he’s a really tough task to block,” Bielema said. “He’s so powerful.
He really does lean well and bends well. He’s such a high motor guy, great power.
It was fun to see him grow this year. Even in some adverse moments he’s probably been one of our most steady performers.
I don’t know how high he’s going to go in the draft. He’ll probably be, in my opinion, our highest draft pick.
It hasn’t come easy. He’s worked very hard.”
That’s high praise from a coach who’s seen more than a few NFL-caliber defenders come through his program.
And while the Big Ten will release its offensive honors later this week, Jacas has already made his statement. In a conference known for physicality and trench warfare, he emerged as one of the most feared edge defenders in the game.
For Illinois fans, Jacas’ rise has been a thrill to watch. For NFL scouts, it’s a blueprint of production, consistency, and upside.
And for Jacas himself? It’s a legacy - one built on grit, growth, and game-wrecking plays.