CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) - Rick Renfro couldn't hold in the tears when his son, Jake, committed to Illinois in January of 2026.
Rick Renfro played for the Illini in the 1980s, winning a Big Ten ******* le in '83, and playing in the '84 Rose Bowl.
Now, Jake Renfro joins U of I football for his seventh and final year of college football, transferring in from Wisconsin. Like his father, Jake plays offensive line. He is projected to start at center for Illinois.
"I sat and cried," Rick said regarding his reaction when he found out Jake would play for Illinois.
Rick says then-Illini head coach Lovie Smith recruited Jake, out of Mokena, Ill., a little bit in high school. Then, when Jake entered the transfer portal to depart from Cincinnati, following the 2022 season, Bret Bielema reached out. However, Jake opted to follow head coach Luke Fickell as he made the move from Cincinnati to Madison.
#rick #renfro #coach #champaign
Rick Renfro played for the Illini in the 1980s, winning a Big Ten ******* le in '83, and playing in the '84 Rose Bowl.
Now, Jake Renfro joins U of I football for his seventh and final year of college football, transferring in from Wisconsin. Like his father, Jake plays offensive line. He is projected to start at center for Illinois.
"I sat and cried," Rick said regarding his reaction when he found out Jake would play for Illinois.
Rick says then-Illini head coach Lovie Smith recruited Jake, out of Mokena, Ill., a little bit in high school. Then, when Jake entered the transfer portal to depart from Cincinnati, following the 2022 season, Bret Bielema reached out. However, Jake opted to follow head coach Luke Fickell as he made the move from Cincinnati to Madison.
#rick #renfro #coach #champaign
3 months ago
