The News-Gazette · Jul 20, 2018
Top 50 most important Illini: No. 15, Jake Hansen
Vitals: 6-2, 230, LB
Hometown: Tarpon Springs, Fla.
High School: East Lake
Looking back at 2017: Hansen was all set to see his role increase last fall after making one start but playing in all 12 games primarily on special teams as a true freshman in 2016. The weakside linebacker spot was his. Then Hansen tore his ACL during training camp and had season-ending surgery. It was the first of what turned out to be many injuries among the Illini linebackers last season that put an already-thin position group further into flux.