Renfro, Scott Named to 2026 College Football Comeback Player of the Year Watch List

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Two Illinois team captains, offensive lineman Jake Renfro and defensive back Xavier Scott, have been named to the preseason watch list for the 2026 College Football Comeback Player of the Year Award, released Thursday by the College Sports Communicators in association with the Associated Press and the Fiesta Bowl.

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Since 2018, the award has recognized college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness, or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student-athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.

Comeback Player of the Year Website
Recent winners:
- 2025: Christian Boonar, S, Liberty; Byrum Brown, QB, USF; Bryce Steele, LB, Boston College
- 2024: Ike Larsen, DB, Utah State; Raheim Sanders, RB, South Carolina; Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
- 2023: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan; Jacob Dobbs, LB, Holy Cross; Mike Hollins, RB, Virginia

JAKE RENFRO

2026 Team Captain
2026 Panini Senior Bowl Top 300
Ranked as the #241 overall transfer and #13 transfer center by 247Sports.
Played in 38 career games with 36 starts at Cincinnati (2020-22) and Wisconsin (2023-25).
Named to 2025 Rimington Trophy Watch List before missing final eight games of the season due to injury.
Started all 12 games at Wisconsin in 2024, allowing only one sack and 10 pressures across 375 pass rushing opportunities, according to PFF.
Started 13 of Cincinnati's 14 games in 2021, earning All-AAC first team honors while leading the Bearcats to a College Football Playoff berth.

XAVIER SCOTT

2026 Team Captain
2026 Panini Senior Bowl Top 300
2026 Athlon Preseason All-Big Ten Third Team
Missed final 10 games of 2025 season due to injury and announced return on Jan. 15, 2016
2024 Phil Steele All-America Honorable Mention
2024 All-Big Ten First Team (Media)
2024 All-Big Ten Second Team (Coaches)
2024 AP All-Big Ten First Team
2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist as one of the top 15 defensive backs in college football
Started all 13 games at defensive back in 2024, recording 49 tackles (43 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, four interceptions, and six pass breakups
Tied for second in the Big Ten and 15th in the nation in interceptions (4) during the 2024 regular season
Led Big Ten cornerbacks in snaps played (792) in 2024
No. 3-ranked cornerback in the Big Ten by PFF (82.3) in 2024
No. 4-ranked tackling grade among cornerbacks in the Big Ten by PFF (85.1) in 2024

First-career pick six, first-career two-interception game, and one forced fumble to lead Illinois to a win vs. #19 Kansas (9/7/24)

ILLINI ON WATCH LISTS (AS OF AUGUST 20)

Matthew Bailey – Lott IMPACT Trophy, Panini Senior Bowl Top 300
Bret Bielema – Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
Hudson Clement – Panini Senior Bowl Top 300
Brandon Henderson – Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
Katin Houser – Panini Senior Bowl Top 300
Jayshon Platt - Jet Award, Biletnikoff Award
Jake Renfro – Rimington Trophy, Panini Senior Bowl Top 300, Comeback Player of the Year
Xavier Scott – Panini Senior Bowl Top 300, Comeback Player of the Year
Ca'Lil Valentine – Doak Walker Award

Schedule