Bret Bielema Douglas C. and Linda M. Mills Endowed Head Football Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Bret Bielema Douglas C. and Linda M. Mills Endowed Head Football Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Illinois outside linebacker Gabe Jacas has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Lombardi Award, according to an announcement by the Lombardi Award Committee.
Jacas is among 54 players selected for the Lombardi Award watch list, which recognizes top linemen and linebackers in college football. In addition to this honor, Jacas appears on preseason watch lists for several other major awards, including the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and Chuck Bednarik Award.
The Lombardi Award is given each year to the most outstanding lineman or linebacker in college football who "exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame Head Coach Vince Lombardi in addition to outstanding performance and ability." Established in 1970, the award is determined by a 23-person committee. Previous recipients include Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas), Laiatu Latu (UCLA), and Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama).
Jacas's recent achievements include being named to the 2025 Athlon Preseason All-America Third Team and earning spots on both Athlon and Phil Steele's Preseason All-Big Ten First Teams. He also received Big Ten Preseason Honors and was ranked No. 20 overall in college football by CBS.com's spring rankings.
Statistically, Jacas ranks second among returning Big Ten players in sacks with eight last season, behind only Oregon's Matayo Uiagalelei. He started all 13 games at outside linebacker for Illinois during the previous season, recording 74 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, eight sacks, ten quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Against ranked teams in 2024, he had 41 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
During Illinois' Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win over South Carolina on December 31, Jacas achieved a career-high three tackles for loss along with eight total tackles.
Other Illinois players recognized on various national award watch lists as of August 12 include Luke Altmyer (Maxwell Award), Tanner Arkin (John Mackey Award), Hank Beatty (Paul Hornung Award), Bret Bielema (Dodd Trophy), J.C. Davis (Outland Trophy), Kaden Feagin (Doak Walker Award), Lane Hansen (Patrick Mannelly Award), Aidan Laughery (Doak Walker Award), Kenenna Odeluga (Allstate AFCA Good Works Team; Allstate Wuerffel Trophy), and Xavier Scott (Bronko Nagurski Trophy; Paycom Jim Thorpe Award; Chuck Bednarik Award).
"Lombardi Award Website
Last three winners:
2024: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
2023: Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA
2022: Will Anderson Jr., LB, Alabama"
"The Lombardi Award is presented annually to the most outstanding lineman (offense or defense) or linebacker in college football who 'exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame Head Coach Vince Lombardi in addition to outstanding performance and ability.' It was established in 1970, and it is voted on by a 23-person award committee."
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