Bret Bielema compares Illini LB Gabe Jacas to JJ Watt, describes fending off NIL offer from 'a little bit South'

Bret Bielema believes Illinois linebacker Gabe Jacas has a little bit of JJ Watt in him. Bielema coached Watt when he was at Wisconsin, and can’t help but get flashbacks with what he’s seen out of Jacas the past three seasons in Champaign.

Of course, Watt would go on to play 12 seasons in the NFL and was twice named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2012 and 2015). In an appearance on the See Ball Get Ball podcast with David Pollack, Bielema described what qualities of Jacas remind him of Watt.

“He’s got those country hands strength thing,” the coach said. “Grown man strength. Gabe reminds me a lot of times of JJ Watt. JJ was a standout defensive end and Gabe plays on his feet, but he literally when he was in a three-point stance last year, kind of that true D-end four technique, five technique, he was the most productive player in college football in the reps that he had there. So really excited about what he is. I know the next level of things is gonna be special, so really, really good upside there.”

Jacas had been a starter for the Fighting Illini since his true freshman season in 2022, but had his breakout year as a junior last season. Leading the team with 13 tackles for loss and eight sacks along with a Big Ten-leading three forced fumbles.

That earned him a third team All-Big Ten selection and caused programs around the country to take notice. Bielema revealed that schools began to contact the linebacker despite the fact that he had not entered the portal, which is against NCAA rules.

Jacas told the coach about the offers that he was receiving but ultimately opted to return to Illinois for his senior season. Bielema believes it is because of the work the coaching staff put in the past three years in developing him and helping him grow on and off the field.

“I was literally on a zoom call with Gabe and he mentioned a school that was a little bit south that mentioned that they would give him a certain number,” Bielema said. “He’s like, ‘Coach, I’m just asking. I’m not going anywhere. I know what you provided.’ The true recruitment and retainment of our players is what we do every day in this building. I always tell our coaches that, as an employee in this building, the one thing you can do every day that really helps all of us is be consistent and be great in communication, both giving and hearing.

“I’m not oblivious to the fact that probably our 10-15 top players could have went other places for probably not just a little bit more money, a lot more money. But they know what we’ve built. They know the true reward.”

That reward could end up being a long NFL career much like what Watt had, where players will make millions more in the long run compared to what Beilema described as “instant” NIL money. Jacas certainly appears to have a chance to do just that based on his coach’s assessment.

The linebacker will have the opportunity to increase his stock with another big performance this season. And when he does make it to the league, Bielema has faith his work ethic will bring him success.

“I never got to coach him, but I saw him in the league for a long time, Matt Judon (is also like Jacas),” Bielema said. “He’s a really strong, big outside backer. Kind of rough on his feet. Probably want to rush him about 90% of the time and drop him less than 10, but very talented.

“Gabe is a hungry dude. I’ll walk in the building Sunday night at 8 o’clock and he’ll be in the indoor pulling the weight. We have to literally get him to understand that he can overtrain, because you can get to a point where you put too much tax on your body.”