Renfro family back with Illini football, 40 years later

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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 title 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.

This time around, the choice felt relatively easy for Jake.

"He had a lot of other opportunities and he said 'I don't want to talk [to other teams], I want to come [to Illinois.] This is where I want to be, Dad. This is our family. This is our home.'" Rick recalled of his conversations with Jake. "Coming back here has been really, really special."

Rick, and some of his Illini teammates from four decades ago, had season tickets for many years while Jake was growing up. The father-son duo have been to plenty of games in Champaign together.

Besides being thrilled that his son will play for his own alma mater, Rick also believes it's the right decision from a football perspective.

"He's the real deal," Rick said of Illinois head coach Bret Bielema. "We put our trust in him, and I couldn't be happier."

"It's such an honor to be playing at the same program [my dad] got to play in 40 years ago now," Jake said. "To have him come back and watch me wearing the same jersey that he once wore, it's really special to me."

Click here for more on the 2026 Illinois offensive line.

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