NFF National Scholar-Athletes
Jack Gibbens, LB – Abilene Christian University
4.00 GPA – Accounting & Financial Management
Head Coach: Adam Dorrel | Athletics Director: Allen Ward
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Jonathan Stewart
A two-year captain with a perfect GPA at Abilene Christian, Jack Gibbens is the epitome of the scholar-athlete ideal. The Bulverde, Texas, native earns his spot as the Wildcats' first NFF National Scholar-Athlete.
A 2019 First Team Academic All-American, Gibbens is on pace to graduate in May 2021 with a 4.00 GPA in accounting & financial management. The First Team Academic All-District selection was named to the 2019 Southland Conference All-Academic Team and is a member of the conference commissioner's honor roll. A six-time Dean's List honoree, Gibbens was inducted into the Beta Sigma Gamma Academic Honor Society.
While captaining one of just a handful of FCS teams playing games this fall, Gibbens finished the season leading ACU with 49 total tackles while also recording 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception. He was named FCS Co-Player of the Week after a career day against Angelo State (TX) on Nov. 7 that included a career-high 14 tackles; a sack, a forced fumble and fumble recovery on the same play; and an interception. The 2018 Honorable Mention All-Southland Conference performer finished second on the team in tackles in both 2019 (104) and 2018 (77).
In 2019, Gibbens helped the defense rank among the top 15 in the FCS in team sacks (3) and team tackles for loss (8.1). He was also a key cog in leading the Wildcats to their first winning season (6-5 in 2018) since moving up to the FCS. For his career, the standout linebacker boasts 258 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, seven sacks and five interceptions.
With the NCAA granting an extra year of eligibility to all 2020 fall athletes, Gibbens announced he will grad transfer and play one more season at Minnesota in 2021.
Off the field, Gibbens was a financial analysis intern for Records Consultants Inc., and he served as a teaching and research assistant in the ACU College of Business Administration. He also volunteers with New Horizons, which helps children through counseling, foster care and adoption, and Palm House, which provides neighborhood resources.
Gibbens is now a member of the Tennesse Titans.
