Illinois two-year left tackle starter J.C. Davis was selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round with the 192nd overall selection.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

April 25, 2026

J.C. Davis became the second Illinois player selected in the 2026 National Football League Draft when the Illini offensive lineman was taken by the New York Giants in the sixth round with the 192nd overall selection.

Gabe Jacas, a 6-foot-3 and 260 to 270-pound edge rusher who finished with 27 career sacks and led the Big Ten Conference with 11 last season, was selected 55th overall by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday evening.

Davis is the second offensive lineman to be selected by the Giants, who are being led by first-year head coach John Harbuagh, this weekend as they picked tackle Francis Mauigoa from Miami at No. 10 overall in the first round on Friday night. Mauigoa could possibly immediately move inside to right guard, where the Giants don't currently have a projected starter in its depth cahrt. However, Davis could provide depth at tackle to protect against veteran Andrew Thomas suffering an injury or the start of a future project before Jermaine Eluemunor's contract expires or at guard if they kick Mauigoa out wide to begin his professional career.

Davis, who has 49 consecutive collegiate starts at left tackle including 25 with the Illini after transferring from New Mexico, was an All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection by the league’s coaches and the Associated Press while being a second-team selection by the league’s media contingent. Davis was the No. 3 graded left tackle in the nation during the 2025 regular season, according to Pro Football Focus data and PFF analysts had him currently rated as the No. 147 overall on their prospect board.

“He’s a guy that gave us a lot and needs to be celebrated for what he did in an Illinois jersey, not for what he isn’t going to do,” Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said in Dec. 2025. “Super excited for J.C. and his bright future at the next level.”

Davis primarily worked at both sides of the offensive line tackle spots during his posiitonal drills at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and at his pro day workout inside the Irvin Indoor Facility in Champaign. However, Davis could easily have value being kicked inside to guard.

Davis was selected as a All-Big Ten first-team pick by the league’s coaches and The Associated Press following the 2025 campaign and an All-Big Ten second-team selection by the league’s media despite dealing with a severe foot injury that began in preseason camp in August and lingered throughout the season. The foot issue was center stage again when Davis arrived in Mobile, Ala., for the Senior Bowl practices. Sources confirmed to IlliniGuys.com that Davis left his orthotic-designed football cleats at home and had to use a less cushioning seat of backup cleats during the practice sessions where he didn’t miss a single practice rep. However, Davis was ruled inactive for the Senior Bowl game and was shown with his right foot in a protective boot.

Davis is the first Illini offensive linemen selected in the NFL draft since Isaiah Adams went in the third round, No. 71 overall, to the Arizona Cardinals in 2024. Bielema has now had four offensive linemen he’s coached at Illinois drafted into the NFL (Adams,Vederian Lowe - 6th round, 184th overall by Minnesota Vikings and Doug Kramer - 6th round, 207th overall by Chicago Bears).