Illinois Football: Illini linebacker Jake Hansen gets NFL Combine invite

Illinois football might not have gone bowling this postseason, but there is a player who is starting to move toward the NFL Draft.

The Illini have had some great linebackers come through the program. One of the best to ever put on an Illinois uniform was Jake Hansen. The star linebacker went through so much as a player, but he came out on the other side and is now a potential NFL Draft pick.

On Thursday night, Hansen took to Twitter to make a big announcement. He posted that he is going to be heading to Indianapolis, Indiana to participate in the 2022 NFL Combine after he accepted the invitation that they set him.

This is exciting news for Hansen. The fact he got an invitation means there is a serious chance that he is picked in the upcoming draft. Having another player in the NFL is always good for Illinois recruiting.

Hansen was a legend for the Illinois football program.

Over the six years Hansen was with the Illini, he made an impact in more than one way. The on-field impact was the most noticeable, though.

Hansen would end his career with 274 total tackles, 12 forced fumbles, eight sacks, seven fumble recoveries, and three interceptions. He was a mainstay in the bowl run Illinois had in 2019 as well with his 71 tackles and 3.5 sacks that year.

I think Hansen’s presence on the team is the biggest thing he brought to the program. There was so much turmoil inside the Illinois football team when he decided to pull the trigger and commit to the Orange and Blue.

Even after Illinois fired their head coach and moved on to Lovie Smith, Hansen stuck with the Illini. He played through injuries. Things weren’t going his way the first couple of years in Champaign, but Hansen stuck it out through thick and thin.

Hansen is a great example of how hard work pays off. That hard work and dedication to the program have earned him an invitation to the NFL Draft Combine. This kid has a love for the game that is unmatched.