Like father, like son. At least when it comes to football coaches.
Loyola Academy center Josh Kreutz announced Thursday his commitment to play at Illinois under Lovie Smith — who coached his six-time Pro Bowl father, Olin Kreutz, with the Chicago Bears.
Josh Kreutz posted a photo of himself in an Illini uniform with the news of his decision. He had not received any other Power Five conference offers, according to scouting services, but his commitment is significant for Illinois.
The 6-foot-2, 260-pounds Kreutz, a three-star recruit, is rated the No. 15 center in the Class of 2021 and the No. 29 prospect in the state. He is the Illini’s first in-state commitment since Keith Randolph in 2018, according to 247sports.com.
A third-round pick in the 1998 draft out of Washington, Olin Kreutz played 13 of his 14 NFL seasons for the Bears, starting 182 games, and was a fan favorite. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2006, when the Bears made their second Super Bowl appearance, losing to the Indianapolis Colts.
Smith was the Bears coach from 2004-12 and took over at Illinois in 2016.