INDIANAPOLIS — Before Gabe Jacas arrived at this week's NFL Scouting Combine, he and former teammate Jer'Zhan Newton connected for a quick phone call.
It wasn't a mentor-mentee relationship where Newton was needed to guide Jacas through the upcoming week of what's essentially a high-profile job interview. The two former Illini stars simply "chopped it up," Jacas said.
But Newton did have some advice, given he was in those same shoes just two years ago. Newton reminded Jacas to be himself. Don't overthink the interviews with NFL front offices and coaches. Authenticity was the key, and anything else was a wrong turn.
Consider it another piece of knowledge after Jacas had a front-row seat learning from Newton en route to Newton's 2023 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year season at Illinois and eventually becoming a second-round draft pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
"Mindset. I think that's something Johnny always had," Jacas told Illini Inquirer. "He's obviously a good player, but his mindset was just different. How you approach practices and how you approach the meeting room and how you approach the field was just how I'm going to be the best. That's how I carry myself is I want to be the best."
Like Newton, Jacas turned down an NFL opportunity — and transfer opportunities — after his junior season and instead opted to return to the Illini in order to boost his draft stock and cement himself as one of the top edge rushers and defenders in program history.
Jacas more than checked that box. He was a First Team All-Big Ten selection last season and led the conference in sacks during the regular season (11.0) and is projected to be a top-100 pick in April's draft. He's second all-time in program history in career sacks (27.0).