Jacas Named to Lombardi Award Preseason Watch List

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois outside linebacker Gabe Jacas has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Lombardi Award, announced Tuesday by the Lombardi Award Committee.

Jacas - who also appears on preseason watch lists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and Chuck Bednarik Award - is one of 54 players on the Lombardi Award watch list which highlights the nation's premier linemen and linebackers.  

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.

• Lombardi Award Website
• Last three winners:
  • 2024: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
  • 2023: Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA
  • 2022: Will Anderson Jr., LB, Alabama

• 2025 Athlon Preseason All-America Third Team
• 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
• 2025 Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List
• 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
• 2025 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten First Team
• 2025 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten First Team
• 2025 Big Ten Preseason Honors
• No. 20 overall player in college football according to CBS.com's spring rankings
• No. 2 in the Big Ten in sacks among returners (8.0) behind only Oregon's Matayo Uiagalelei (10.5)
• 2024 Phil Steele All-America Third Team
• 2024 All-Big Ten Third Team (Coaches and Media)
• Started all 13 games at outside linebacker and had 74 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery 
• Totaled 41 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in six games against ranked teams in 2024
• Finished the 2024 regular season top-25 nationally in forced fumbles (t-21st, 3) and sacks (t-24th, 8.0)
• Tied with Oregon DE Matayo Uiagalelei for second-most sacks in Big Ten games (7.0)
• Career-high 3.0 tackles for loss and eight tackles in Illinois' Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win over #14 South Carolina (12/31/24)

• Luke Altmyer – Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O'Brien Award
• Tanner Arkin – John Mackey Award
• Hank Beatty – Paul Hornung Award
• Bret Bielema – Dodd Trophy, Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
• J.C. Davis – Outland Trophy
• Kaden Feagin – Doak Walker Award
• Lane Hansen – Patrick Mannelly Award
• Gabe Jacas – Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award
• Aidan Laughery – Doak Walker Award
• Kenenna Odeluga – Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
• Xavier Scott – Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Chuck Bednarik Award