Football season is weeks away from starting. Illinois will play its first volleyball and soccer games in a few days, which means a new athletic year is upon us. With so much going on at once, it is hard to keep up with everything, so here are a few pieces of Illinois Athletics news you may have missed to start your week.
Jake Renfro named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List for most outstanding center
One of Illinois' newest players on the football field is already garnering some preseason watch list honors. Former Cincinnati and Wisconsin center Jake Renfro was named to the Rimington Preseason Watch List, an award given to the most outstanding center in Division 1 football.
𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) August 6, 2026
Jake Renfro joins the Rimington Trophy Watch List. pic.twitter.com/PmQrL9UYvZ
Renfro is one of 13 players from the Big Ten to be named to the list as he is about to go into his seventh year of college football. Now, it may seem perplexing that Renfro has been able to play so many seasons, but injuries have unfortunately marred his college career, from a season-ending knee injury in 2022 to leg and foot injuries in 2023, and then another season-ending injury in 2025.
Now, Renfro is getting a fresh start at Illinois and is expected to anchor what will be a fairly new offensive line for Illinois, which barely returned any snaps in an Illini uniform last season.
Illinois and Brad Underwood has its name in the hat for 2028 5-star guard Brady Pettigrew
While football season is about to take center stage, basketball recruiting is in full swing. Illinois head coach Brad Underwood proved he has an eye for talent when he brought in three-star recruit Keaton Wagler, who went on to win Big Ten Freshman of the Year, led the Illini to a Final Four appearance for the first time in 2005, and was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Now, Underwood is after his next star in five-star guard Brady Pettigrew in the Class of 2028. Illinois gave Pettigrew one of his 34 total offers so far, as the No. 1 combo guard in the country has a big decision to make for his college career.
Pettigrew could be a little more partial to the Illini being an Illinois native, but Underwood can't rely on that connection when recruiting the five-star guard. This will be a battle with some of the top schools in the country, but with the success Underwood and his team have had as of late, he very well could come out on the winning end.
More: WR Brayden Trimble is creating buzz early in fall camp at Illinois
Illinois has now had to replace its No. 1 wide receiver for the last three seasons, as they have moved on to careers in the NFL. The Illini will now enter the 2026 football season with depth in the wide receiver room, both from returners and new players out of the portal. Even a few younger guys are starting to create buzz, especially redshirt freshman Brayden Trimble.
During media availability on Friday, head coach Bret Bielema spoke highly of Trimble, saying not only did he earn practice MVP on Tuesday as a reciever, but also the special team's practice MVP, showing he can be a versatile player for the Illini. After a freshman year that resulted in just three games of action before choosing to redshirt the rest of the season.
Now, Trimble is starting to show off the talent that got him an offer to play at Illinois in the first place, and Biemela is loving what he is seeing from his young receiver.
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