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PITTSBURGH – Fighting Illini All-American OLB Gabe Jacas was selected Friday night by the New England in Round 2 (No. 55 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Throughout his Illinois career, Jacas proved to be one of the most disruptive and productive defensive players in the nation. In addition to 183 career tackles, including 97 solo stops, he finished second in Illinois history with 27.0 sacks, ranked ninth in program history with 35.5 career tackles for loss, and tied for sixth in the Illini record book with seven career forced fumbles.
Jacas was recognized as a Freshman All-American by the FWAA following his breakout rookie campaign in 2022. He then earned All-America honors from Phil Steele in both his junior season in 2024 (third team) and senior season in 2025 (fourth team), helping the Fighting Illini to back-to-back seasons of nine or more wins for the first time in program history.
Voted a team captain as a senior, Jacas earned his third All-Big Ten nod in 2025 after leading the conference with 11.0 sacks, the No. 6 mark in the nation.
NOTES
259th NFL Draft pick in Illinois program history
57th NFL Draft pick in Bret Bielema‘s 16 seasons as a head coach
13th overall selection in Bielema’s five seasons at Illinois
Bielema’s ninth top-100 pick at Illinois, fourth-most in the Big Ten among teams in the league each of the last five seasons
Eighth Illini drafted by the New England Patriots and the first since OL Ted Karras (Round 6, No. 221 Overall) in 2016
First Illini defensive player selected by the Patriots since DE Michael Buchanan (Round 7, No. 226 overall) in 2013
Highest-drafted Illini by the Patriots since DB Tavon Wilson (Round 2, No. 48 overall) in 2012
First Illinois edge rusher selected since Dawuane Smoot was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Round 3 (No. 68 overall) of the 2017 draft
Highest drafted Illinois edge rusher since Jihad Ward in Round 2 (No. 44 overall) by the Oakland Raiders in 2016
