During the 2025 campaign, the Illinois football team had a serviceable offensive line.
The front five for the Illini was carried by the left side of the line that consisted of JC Davis and Josh Gesky, who played the tackle and guard roles, respectively. Well, both of those talented blockers have aged out.
Not only does Bret Bielema have to replace those two talented blockers, but center Josh Kreutz is also gone, as his time in Champaign is up. Those three, along with our starting right tackle, will all have to be replaced heading into 2026.
Illinois started to chip away at the offensive line issue since the transfer portal officially opened. On Monday, we found our starting center for next season when Carson Bounds of On3.com announced that Jake Renfro is transferring to Illinois.
Breaking: Illinois has signed Wisonsin transfer Center Jake Renfro (@JakeRenfro_)!
— Carson Bounds (@CarsonBounds) January 5, 2026
The Providence Catholic (Ill.) alum was on the preseason Remmington Award Watchlist.
Played at Cincinnati prior to Wisconsin.
MAJOR recruiting win for the Illini! https://t.co/JNyeteLiGY pic.twitter.com/380MajAmMQ
This is a big get for the Illini. Renfro dealt with some injuries in 2025, playing just 225 snaps, but those came in four games. He was Wisconsin’s starting center for the entire 2024 campaign, and when he was healthy enough to see the field in 2025, he started in all four games for the Badgers.
Illinois is also trying to build some depth for the rest of the offensive line. In addition to Renfro’s commitment, the Illini also landed Christian Martin.
Martin lands at Illinois after spending time at Colorado State. The transfer portal brings this experienced offensive tackle to Champaign, as he finished last season playing 778 snaps for the Rams.
The Illinois football offensive line depth chart could use a couple of more pieces out of the transfer portal
No matter what you think of the talent that departed the program, the Illini are losing a ton of experience on the offensive line. That is hard to replace.
I think the center position is taken care of. Renfro starts in 2026. Illinois rode with Brandon Henderson at guard this past season, and he is back with his 818 snaps of experience. I am not sure where Illinois goes with the other guard position. That is still up in the air.
I think there is a chance that Maika Matelau ends up snagging the starting job at the other guard position. He is a junior college addition. Illinois also has four-star Kai Pritchard coming into the program. If he can pick up the offense quickly, he will see snaps.
At offensive tackle, Martin is looking like a starter right now. I think Nathan Knapik would be the other starter if the season started today. He got the start in the bowl game against Tennessee, and on 39 possible dropbacks, he only allowed two pressures on Luke Altmyer.
Illinois also added two JUCO additions since the season ended. TJ Taylor was the No. 2 JUCO offensive tackle, and Alfred Washington is a nice depth piece. Don't sleep on the possibility of four-star Micah Smith making some waves early on, too.
Bielema has started to build some nice depth on the offensive line. I wouldn't mind landing at least one more guard and one more tackle, though. This unit is growing, and the depth is building to compete in 2026.