Wisconsin Center Jake Renfro Suffers Leg Injury at Fall Camp

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — Late during Thursday’s fall camp practice, starting center and senior Jake Renfro went down and needed help off the field. Renfro made it to the sidelines and walked off under his own power briefly, but was carted away from Pioneer Stadium. Per Wisconsin officials, Renfro suffered a leg injury and is week to week.

Seperate sources tell Badger Blitz that Renfro is expected to return in roughly two weeks, making it possible, if not likely he plays in the Aug. 28 season opener against Miami (OH). UW officials confirmed that Renfro has not been ruled out for the opener and there was no structural damage.

Renfro started all 12 games for Wisconsin last season at center. This came after Renfro suffered a knee injury that cost him the entire 2022 season and all but one game in 2023. After following head coach Luke Fickell over to UW via the transfer portal, the former Cincinnati standout didn’t make his Badger debut until the ReliaQuest Bowl against LSU.

Part of Cincinnati’s 13-1 squad that reached the college football playoff in 2021, Renfro was a first-team All-AAC pick as a sophomore. He was an Academic All-Big Ten performer for the Badgers in 2024.

Who’s Next Up?

The Badgers also lost starting left tackle Kevin Heywood in spring ball to a season-ending ACL injury.

Without Renfro, Wisconsin could turn to either senior Kerry Kodanko or redshirt freshman Ryan Cory at center. Kodanko has taken the bulk of the second-team reps at center the past two days of fall camp. True freshman Logan Powell has also been working at center. Should Kodanko get the nod, the career backup has just 13 games of experience, mostly on special teams.

“I think that group has taken leaps and bounds since spring ball,” Renfro said earlier this week. “They’ve really focused in on their technique and the game of football over the summer. I trust those guys. They’re good football players, they’re smart, instinctual. I like what I see out of them. Now, the consistency needs to step up a notch.”

Wisconsin will wrap up the Platteville portion of fall camp on Saturday. Practice is open to the public.

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