Where Jake Renfro stands on the Wisconsin football offensive line

Aug 6, 2023
PLATTEVILLE — Jake Renfro can’t say precisely when he suffered a stress fracture in his leg on the first day of spring practice, but he’s back on the field as the University of Wisconsin continues through preseason camp.
Renfro, a key transfer for the Badgers during the 2023 offseason, has worked at second-team center and has increased his workload through four preseason practices.
“Today was my first day back 100 percent,” Renfro said Saturday. “Didn't miss a rep today so I feel great. Everything's ready to go, and I'm super excited.”
How Joe Huber earned respect, potential starting role for Wisconsin football
Renfro came over from Cincinnati and initially took first-team reps at center at the start of spring practices, but then the injury occurred. He went back out for Day 2, but felt “a little sore.”
“Day 3 went out there, and it was pretty painful, and yet again didn't do too well again,” Renfro said.
The center did not need surgery, but he wore a protective boot and was seen using crutches while he rested. Renfro credited UW football performance dietitian Sophie Pomrehn with helping to get his “body back in tune.”
UW listed Renfro at 6 foot 4 and 310 pounds on its fall camp roster released earlier this week, down six pounds from what was seen on the spring roster, but the redshirt junior told reporters he weighed in at 306 pounds Saturday morning.
Renfro said he “was a little heavy” when arriving at UW in January after missing the 2022 season due to multiple meniscus tears, but the 25 pounds he estimated he’s lost allows him to play at a weight previously seen during his freshman and sophomore years.
Renfro doesn't believe he needs to mentally catch up from the time lost as he attended practices and meetings. Now it’s just reacclimating physically to the rigors of the offensive line, which includes seeing and reading defenses.
“Just get my legs back underneath me, get that conditioning back, and that's really it,” Renfro said. “And just keep my feet moving and put my hands on people, and that’s about it.”
4 observations from Wisconsin football's fourth training camp practice
Redshirt junior Tanor Bortolini has assumed first-team center reps for Renfro since the injury and has continued that role into the first four days of the preseason camp. A healthy and effective Renfro, who was an All-American Athletic Conference center for coach Luke Fickell at Cincinnati, could allow Bortolini to slide in and fortify another one of the interior offensive line spots. The two give the Badgers and assistant Jack Bicknell Jr. at least two centers with game experience at the position.
Renfro's just excited to return to the field in meaningful game action.
“It's been a long time for me, and it was not a fun year for me last year, just because sitting on the sidelines it’s no fun to do,” he said. “So I'm itching to get back and hit somebody else other than my own teammates.”