Gabe Jacas LB/EDGE Illinois | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Gabe Jacas LB/EDGE Illinois
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| PLAY STYLE: EDGE OLB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 05/01/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.80 seconds (25%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PLAY STYLE: EDGE OLB | |
| Last Updated: 05/01/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.80 seconds (25%*) | |
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| Overall Rating: | 84.4 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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67% |
| Pass Rush: |
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80% |
| Run Defense: |
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66% |
| Coverage: |
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57% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#92
Position rank:
#9
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| College Games: 37 College Snaps: 1695 | ||
ESPN RATING: 75/100
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247 RATING: 85/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.5 (90%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Brenton Cox Jr. - Florida |
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74% |
| Andre Carter II - Army |
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71% |
| Mike Morris - Michigan |
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71% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Gabe Jacas, born May 27, 2004, hails from Fort Pierce, Florida, where he was a standout at Fort Pierce Central High School. A two-time state champion wrestler, Jacas translated his mat skills to the gridiron, earning three-star recruit status from major scouting services.At Illinois, Jacas wasted no time making an impact. As a true freshman in 2022, he played all 13 games, starting eight at outside linebacker. His stat line impressed: 35 tackles, 5.0 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, and five quarterback hurries. These numbers earned him FWAA Freshman All-American honors, making him the first Illinois true freshman to achieve this distinction. He also garnered All-Big Ten honorable mention from the media.
Jacas's sophomore campaign in 2023 saw him start 10 of 12 games, splitting time between outside linebacker and defensive line. While his sack total remained at 2.0, he continued to be a disruptive force, notably making a crucial third-down stop in overtime against Indiana. His consistent performance and athletic potential landed him at #69 on The Athletic's Freaks List, setting the stage for a pivotal junior season.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Super athletic - Made Bruce Feldman's 2023 Freak's List at #69. He Wrote: " Jacas has ridiculous strength and power, especially for a guy so young. The 6-3, 267-pounder bench-presses 285 for 22 reps. “He looks like he’s been lifting since middle school,” says Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton. “He can do it all. Gabe is a dawg at wrestling. I tried to wrestle him. I wouldn’t advise it. He just wore me out. He is not to be messed with.”"
- Exceptional leverage and hand usage, stemming from his wrestling background, allowing him to consistently win at the point of attack
- Versatile defender capable of lining up in multiple fronts, providing scheme flexibility for creative defensive coordinators
- Displays impressive knock-back power in his initial punch, often catching offensive linemen off balance
- High motor player who pursues relentlessly, making impact plays even when initially blocked
- Solid edge-setter against the run, showing discipline in maintaining gap integrity and shedding blocks
- Demonstrates good burst off the snap, allowing him to threaten tackles with speed-to-power conversions
- Flashes ability to bend and turn tight corners when rushing the passer, with potential for improvement
- Young for his class (born May 2004), suggesting significant room for physical and technical development
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Raw in his pass rush arsenal - lacks a full toolbox of moves and counters, often defaulting to bull rush without a Plan B
- Needs to clean up his hand technique - inconsistent in winning initial hand battles, limiting his ability to disengage
- Lacks ideal length for an edge setter - can struggle to stack and shed against longer-armed tackles in the run game
- Hip fluidity is just adequate - some stiffness when asked to redirect or drop into coverage, limiting scheme versatility
- Production plateau as a sophomore raises questions about his ceiling - needs to show he can dominate against top-tier competition
Scouting Report: Summary
Jacas projects as a scheme-versatile edge defender with the potential to contribute in both 3-4 and 4-3 fronts at the next level. His wrestling background and natural strength make him an intriguing prospect for teams looking to bolster their run defense and add a high-motor player to their pass-rush rotation.While he may not possess elite traits in any one area, Jacas's well-rounded skill set and room for growth make him an attractive mid-round target. His ability to set the edge against the run and flash as a pass rusher could see him develop into a solid starter or valuable rotational piece in the NFL.
Teams running multiple fronts will likely value Jacas's versatility, as he has shown the ability to play with his hand in the dirt or standing up. His wrestling background and football IQ suggest he could also contribute on special teams early in his career while he refines his pass-rushing technique and builds an NFL-ready body.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
How other scouting services rate Gabe Jacas (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
91.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
11.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.