BadgerBlitz – Wisconsin hits big in the portal with a commitment from IOL Jake Renfro

Wisconsin added certainly one of its prime switch portal targets on Sunday night.

Jake Renfro, who spent the final three seasons at Cincinnati beneath present UW head coach Luke Fickell, introduced his dedication to the Badgers. LSU, amongst many different faculties, was additionally closely concerned in his recruitment.

The previous three-star prospect from Windfall Excessive Faculty in Illinois visited Madison at least two occasions since he entered the portal on Dec. 1.

Renfro, 6-foot-3 and 308 kilos, missed your complete 2022 season attributable to damage. In 2021, he began 13 video games and was a first-team All-AAC decide. As a real freshman, Renfro performed in seven contests and made six begins. He may doubtlessly get a medical redshirt for this previous season.

With Joe Tippmamn headed to the NFL, Renfro may slide in properly at heart for the Badgers in 2023. That might enable Tanor Bortolini, who labored at heart in opposition to Oklahoma State within the Assured Charge Bowl, to shift over to both proper or left guard this spring.

Renfro is the second participant to switch from Cincinnati this week, together with fellow offensive lineman Joe Huber.

“You possibly can by no means have sufficient good o-linemen, so whether or not it’s portal or freshmen, we’re at all times trying to get greater and higher within the o-line room, so that can by no means change,” offensive coordinator Phil Longo informed reporters earlier this week.

Wisconsin and new place coach Jack Bicknell Jr. now have 12 scholarship offensive linemen on the projected spring camp roster. That group contains beginning tackles Jack Nelson and Riley Mahlman, as properly Bortolini and Michael Furtney, versatile inside linemen who’ve began 16 and 12 video games, respectively, throughout their time at Wisconsin. Trey Wedig, who can play guard or deal with, additionally returns for the Badgers this spring.

Renfro, who has no less than two years of eligibility remaining at Wisconsin, is certainly one of six scholarship switch portal targets Fickell has landed for the Badgers.