Illinois LB Jake Hansen will miss 2017 season with knee injury
Illinois sophomore linebacker Jake Hansen will miss the 2017 season due to a serious knee injury that occurred on Saturday during training camp.
Head coach Lovie Smith reported the disappointing news on Tuesday.
"Jake Hansen is out with a serious knee injury that will require surgery…unfortunate, he was having a great camp." – @LovieSmith pic.twitter.com/FSHi4FzPOJ
— Illini Football (@IlliniFootball) August 22, 2017
According to multiple reports, Hansen was expected to be the starter at weakside linebacker this fall. He played in all 12 games as a freshman last season. He accounted for eight tackles and one QB hurry in 2016.
Smith went on to say that Hansen “is going to be an outstanding football player.”
Illinois opens the season on Sept. 2 against Ball State.