Gabe Jacas looking to change narrative of Illinois’ defense in 2024
Illinois linebacker Gabe Jacas sacks Penn State quarterback Drew Allar during the second quarter Saturday September 16, 2023 at Memorial Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
INDIANAPOLIS — After being part of a unit that finished third nationally in total defense in 2022, the linebacker watched those numbers drop to 61st last season, and is eager to make changes this fall.
Gabe Jacas considers himself the enforcer of Illinois’ defense, and takes pride in setting the tone. After all, he has the speed and athleticism to fly from sideline to sideline, and the versatility to give the Fighting Illini options off the edge.
Ryan Walters was in charge of Illinois’ defense two years ago, and that team won several games in the trenches. Desite the return of Jer’Zahn Newton and Keith Randolph to the defensive line in 2023, the unit still took a huge step back under Aaron Henry’s leadership. Jacas himself finished with less tackles than the year prior.
However, the players have put in the work over the offseason, and continue to build chemistry with each other. Jacas and his teammates did cookouts together, took a trip to Chicago and went bowling. The Florida native is feeling more fluid in year two of Henry’s system too. He’s able to dive deeper into the blitz packages, which will require him to attack more on the outside and off the edge. And that helps his confidence.
“That comfort goes into my teammates doing their jobs, because I know that person to the right of me is doing his job, and the person to the left of me is doing his job,” Jacas said. “So that builds trust, and I feel like we built trust this spring, and that’s where that comfort zone comes from.”
His production has been promising up to this point, with 66 tackles, including nine for loss and eight sacks over the past two seasons. Jacas takes pride in being a workaholic, and wants to be the best. He has range too, and a long wingspan on his six-foot-three frame that allows him to wreak havoc in offensive backfields. Jacas knows there’s plenty of room for improvement in his game, and feels he’s just starting to crack the surface.
“Defensive players have to have that mental aspect of not taking things for granted, and there are a lot of plays I would like to take back, but I can’t, so I treat very play like it’s my last,” he said. “I’m being more consistent in my routine, rather it’s film or recovery, just talking to my coaches on what I can do to improve and doing whatever to have that extra edge.”
Jacas is becoming more of a leader in the locker room, and holds himself accountable when something goes wrong. He’s guiding the other younger players in the linebacker room, and has a huge bond with Seth Coleman. The two will form one of the best linebacker duos in the conference, if they play up to their potential. The closeness of the group encourages Jacas that they’re going to have more success on the gridiron this time around.
“Just building that brotherhood, we’re trying to get closer as a team, and we preach family,” the 20-year old said. “That family aspect is important during the offseason, and just the little details in everything we do, which is lift, the meetings and nutrition.”
The former three-star prospect is approaching his third season with the Fighting Illini, and feels the best is yet to come. Although no one is really giving Illinois much of chance to have a successful campaign in 2024, Jacas is out to prove all of the critics wrong. The stakes are higher with expansion, and every game will be important.
“No matter who we play it’s the same mindstate, just having that mental capacity of getting better everyday.”
