For every aspiring NFL player, the scouting combine is first and foremost a job interview. A chance to turn a head or move your name way up on a draft board.
Three members of the 2025 Illinois football team are in Indianapolis this week for the annual talentfest: quarterback Luke Altmyer, offensive lineman J.C. Davis and outside linebacker Gabe Jacas. They are the latest of 18 players Bret Bielema has sent to the combine during his first five seasons at Illinois. And many more during previous stops at Wisconsin and Arkansas.
The combine isn’t really a one-shot deal because many of the prospects there will also participate in pro timing days at their schools. The pro timing day for Illinois is scheduled to take place on March 12 in Champaign.
Unlike Las Vegas, what happens at the combine doesn’t stay at the combine. In fact, it is televised by the NFL Network and ESPN.
The cameras will catch the on-field work: running, jumping and position-specific drills.
Jacas is the first Illini to work out, with his session scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday.
Altmyer’s workout is set for noon on Saturday. Davis goes at 10 a.m. Sunday.
Media sessions also take place for all the invitees. Jacas went Wednesday morning, with Altmyer scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday and Davis at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
I have been to the NFL combine a few times, most recently in 2023, when Devon Witherspoon was projected as a Top 10 pick. He went fifth overall to the Seahawks, who just won the Super Bowl with his help. In hindsight, a good call by Seattle to take the Illinois All-American.
What’s at stake?
Witherspoon was a no-doubter first-rounder. His film from his time at Illinois was enough to convince scouts he was ready to make an impact in the NFL, which he has.
But Witherspoon was the exception, not the rule. Most players fall into a lower level of prospectdom.
In three seasons at Illinois, Altmyer became one of the most productive quarterbacks in school history. His body of work will certainly help as the NFL figures out where to slot him.
Altmyer is considered to be at the high end of the mental side of quarterbacking. He is poised, accurate and has excellent touch, especially on shorter throws.
What he needs to do at the combine and at individual workouts is convince teams he has the arm strength to make the deep throws that are critical to NFL success.
In preparations for the combine, Altmyer has been working on his arm strength while also cleaning up his mechanics.
Jacas, like Witherspoon, is a Florida native who was productive at Illinois from the start. He finished his freshman season with four sacks and had the same number as a sophomore.
As a junior, he doubled the total to eight, then 11 his senior year to earn First-Team All-Big Ten honors.
Jacas finished his Illinois career with 27 sacks, second only in program history to the great Simeon Rice.
The more versatility Jacas projects at the combine, the higher his value. Is he a pass-rush specialist or someone who can play all three downs?
He will doubtless get a strong recommendation from Bielema, who saw Jacas develop into a star by the end of his career.
Jacas’ strength is an asset. So is his ability against the power run game.
Scouts are going to be looking for improvement in his explosiveness.
Davis started an impressive 49 games during his college career, including 25 at Illinois. He earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors his senior year and helped himself by participating in the Senior Bowl. Good-guy Davis will be a hit during team interviews.
Fearless forecast
The draft doesn’t start for two months. The first round is scheduled for April 23, with the second and third rounds on April 24 before the fourth through seventh rounds happen on April 25. All from Pittsburgh this year.
The three Illini won’t need to be on-site to hear their names called.
Jacas is expected to be the first former Illini to come off the board. Perhaps as soon as the second round. Jacas did the right thing and sat out the Music City Bowl. He already had put his skill set on film and getting hurt in the bowl would have altered his NFL path.
Bielema talked Davis into returning to college for one more year.
It appears to be paying off. Had he left after the 2024 season, Davis would have likely been a late pick or gone undrafted.
With another year in the Big Ten, he is projected as an early- to mid-round pick.
Two things set Davis apart as a prospect: his strength and versatility. He can fit in at tackle or guard. The NFL craves multi-positional players.
Davis has the potential to be a starting lineman for the next 10-plus years.
While there is time to change minds, Altmyer seems likely to be the third Illinois player selected.
Currently, he is listed as a sixth-rounder, but that can improve depending on his work in the next few weeks. Important to remind everyone that it only takes one team to like you. It isn’t an auction.
If Altmyer is selected — and the guess here is yes — he will become the first Illinois quarterback picked since Kurt Kittner went in the fifth round to Atlanta in 2002.