(Editor's note:  Illini sophomore linebacker Gabe Jacas appears on the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular, a weekly, two-hour syndicated radio show airing on more than 20 stations and heard in six states throughout the Midwest and reaching a wider audience through its podcast.  Gabe's appearances on the show are courtesy HX Home Solutions.  Get $1,000 off your next project by mentioning "IlliniGuys" when you call! https://www.hxhome.solutions/ )

November 18, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Larry Smith:  Okay, what was it like to have a front row seat to the most prolific align I passing performance in Memorial Stadium history?

Gabe Jacas:  It was crazy man. It was definitely crazy. For sure. You know, (Paddock) definitely had the best game of his career. It was really cool to see him just go out there and perform is be poised in the moment. So it's just really fun. To be honest. It was a really fun game.

Mike Cagley: So you got to the quarterback and there were some pass rush was there and caused a lot of problems. Anything that you were doing different or anything that you felt you were doing really well that helped you cause such havoc in the Indiana backfield.

GJ: I'm just trusting myself, trusting my coaches.  You know, it's been a rough couple of weeks, you know, not getting back there, but just going out there and playing freely and trusting myself and my technique.  I'm just pretty much just telling myself, you know, this is a game just the game where you can change the game.  I haven't reached my full potential; that's pretty much it, you know, just going to go in and get after it.

LS:  It feels like you are playing freer with each game that goes on. Is that a fair assessment?

GJ: Yeah, for sure.  You know, my coaches always motivated me, you know, I'm just going out there and just being confident in myself.  I'm just pretty much just trusting my coach, you know, knowing that he can help me get to where I need to be and just adding precision to my game each and every week.  It was really a momentum boost for me after the Indiana week for sure.

Brad Sturdy:  So five wins, one more win for bowl eligibility, but also two more wins. And you're in the mix to win the Big 10 West. What's it like right now around the team?

GJ:  I'll say that it's a big game this week.  Everyone's excited.  You know, energy is always there on the field. You can see from each and every player that they're locked in and focused.  The energy is really good in the locker room and I'll say for the coaches as well, you know, everyone's just really excited for this game.