Four Illini Named to 2026 Senior Bowl Top 300

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer, offensive lineman J.C. Davis, outside linebacker Gabe Jacas, and defensive back Xavier Scott have been named among the top players eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft as part of the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl Top 300 list released Wednesday.

The Panini Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage in the NFL Draft process. The longest continual-running all-star game has taken place in Mobile, Alabama, the past 76 years. More than 900 NFL personnel, including key decision-makers from all 32 teams, and over 1,100 media members from around the country were credentialed this year. This past April, the game produced 106 total picks, representing 40% of the entire NFL draft.

• Senior Bowl website
• Complete 2026 Top 300 List

Since its inception, 58 Fighting Illini have played in the Senior Bowl. Under head coach Bret Bielema's guidance, seven former Illini - matching the program record for a four-year period - have played in the annual showcase before going on to NFL careers.

In addition to the seven participants since 2022, consensus All-Americans Devon Witherspoon (2023) and Jer'Zhan Newton (2024) earned invitations but did not participate before being selected in the first round (No. 5 overall) and second round (No. 36 overall) of their respective NFL drafts.

• 2025 Team Captain
• 2025 Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
• 2025 Maxwell Award Watch List
• 2025 Davey O'Brien Award Watch List
• 2025 Manning Award Watch List
• 2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Watch List
• 2025 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team
• 2025 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten Third Team
• 2025 Big Ten Preseason Honors
• 2025 Wooden Citizen Cup nominee
• 2024 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention
• Leads the nation with five career game-winning drives in the final minute/OT
• Davey O'Brien Award Class of 2024 as one of the top 35 quarterbacks in college football
• Started all 13 games in 2024 and led Illinois to a 10-3 record, tying the program's single-season wins record
• One of the most efficient passers in the nation in 2024, posting 22 touchdown passes and only six interceptions

• 2025 Outland Trophy Watch List
• 2025 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten First Team
• 2025 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Fourth Team
• Enters 2025 with 37 consecutive starts
• 2024 All-Big Ten Third Team (Coaches)
• 2024 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (Media)
• 2024 Fighting Illini Male Newcomer of the Year
• Started all 13 games at left tackle in 2024
• AP All-Bowl Team after allowing zero pressures in Illinois' win over #14 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (12/31/24)
• No. 7-pass-blocking grade tackle in the country during the postseason according to PFF (87.6, min. 40 snaps)

• 2025 Team Captain
• 2025 Athlon Preseason All-America Third Team
• 2025 Lombardi Award Watch List
• 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)

• 2025 Athlon Preseason All-America Fourth Team
• 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
• 2025 Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List
• 2025 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
• 2025 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten First Team
• 2025 Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten First Team
• No. 139 overall player in college football according to CBS.com's spring rankings
• 2024 Phil Steele All-America Honorable Mention
• 2024 All-Big Ten First Team (Media)
• 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team (Coaches)
• 2024 AP All-Big Ten First Team
• 2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist as one of the top 15 defensive backs in college football
• Started all 13 games at defensive back in 2024, recording 49 tackles (43 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, four interceptions, and six pass breakups
• Tied for second in the Big Ten and 15th in the nation in interceptions (4) during the 2024 regular season
• Led Big Ten cornerbacks in snaps played (792)
• No. 3-ranked cornerback in the Big Ten by PFF (82.3)
• No. 4-ranked tackling grade among cornerbacks in the Big Ten by PFF (85.1)
• First-career pick six, first-career two-interception game, and one forced fumble to lead Illinois to a win vs. #19 Kansas (9/7/24)

• Luke Altmyer – Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O'Brien Award, Manning Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Senior Bowl Top 300
• Tanner Arkin – John Mackey Award
• Hank Beatty – Paul Hornung Award
• Bret Bielema – Dodd Trophy, Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
• J.C. Davis – Outland Trophy, Senior Bowl Top 300
• Kaden Feagin – Doak Walker Award, Comeback Player of the Year
• Lane Hansen – Patrick Mannelly Award
• Gabe Jacas – Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award, Senior Bowl Top 300
• Aidan Laughery – Doak Walker Award
• Kenenna Odeluga – Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
• Cole Rusk – Comeback Player of the Year
• Xavier Scott – Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, Senior Bowl Top 300