Jacob Eberhart

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-3, 200 lbs. Taller than 71% and heavier than 12% of 2026 Linebacker prospects in the SEC Scouts database (207 with a listed size).

Play Style

In high school he was a ball-skills player on both sides. On offense he was a vertical threat and a big target in the red zone, as his 13 TDs on 42 catches show. On defense he played with good range in deep coverage and turned the ball over, using his length to get to throws. His style suits a long boundary receiver or a rangy safety who plays top-down, more than a quick slot player or a downhill thumper.

Strengths

• Proven two-way production. As a junior he had 42 catches for 795 yards (18.9 per catch) and 13 TDs, plus 45 tackles and 3 INTs on defense, so he makes plays on the ball from either side.
• Length and catch radius. His 6-3 frame lets him win above the rim as a receiver and gives him a wide break-on-the-ball window in deep coverage. His three junior INTs match that projection.
• Positional flexibility. 247 lists him as an ATH, On3 as a nickel, and Illinois has played him at safety and receiver. That gives the staff roster options and makes a later move in either direction low-cost.
• Strong recruitment. He drew interest from Oklahoma (the early 247 Crystal Ball favorite), Alabama and Nebraska, which confirms the Power 4 evaluation.

Areas to Improve

• Settling on one position. After years of two-way play he needs a full-time home to sharpen position details: route stems, releases against press and top-end release for a WR, or eye discipline, leverage and man-coverage footwork for a DB.
• Health and strength. He was not fully healthy entering 2026, so a full offseason in a college strength program is his first priority. He needs to prove his change-of-direction speed at 6-3 against Big Ten athletes.
• Tackling at the college level if he returns to defense. Forty-five tackles is solid but not dominant for a high school safety, and his angles and physicality in the run fit will be tested by Big Ten backs and blocking tight ends.

College Projection

He is a true freshman in 2026 and is working at wide receiver after being recruited as a safety, partly because he was not fully healthy that summer. A redshirt year using the four-game rule is the most likely path, with special teams snaps possible. A realistic timeline is to settle a position through spring 2027, compete for the rotation as a redshirt freshman in 2027, and push to start by 2028. If he returns to defense, his most natural fit is a big nickel or 'star' in Illinois' scheme. If he stays on offense, he projects as an outside receiver whose value is contested catches and red-zone work.

NFL Outlook

His NFL outlook is a real but long-term, mid-to-late-round projection that depends on his position. The NFL values his size and length at either DB or receiver, but his draft value depends on testing (the speed he plays with at 6-3) and on building 2-3 years of production at one spot. If he settles in and tests well, a Day 3 pick is realistic, with upside from there if he becomes a multi-year Big Ten starter.

Best Fit

Illinois under Bret Bielema is a good fit: it is a development-first program with a physical defense and his family history there. His best scheme would be a quarters- or split-safety defense that uses a big nickel or rotating safety to match tight ends and big slot receivers. On offense, a pro-style passing game that uses a big X receiver on the boundary and in the red zone fits him best.