Janoris Jenkins was once a highly touted Florida Gator who seemed to be a lock to be chosen in the top 10 of the NFL draft. He was one of the best cover corners in the SEC, where defense is held in the highest regard. Jenkins was able to hold down some of the biggest receivers who found their way to the NFL in the last couple of years.
He showed the ability to handle A.J. Green and Julio Jones, the fourth and sixth pick of last year’s draft, and give them hell every time they lined up across from him. The future seemed to be great for the youngman from Pahokee, Florida.
But on April 26th 2011 Jenkins’ world came crashing down when he was expelled from the University of Florida for his second drugs related arrest in three monts. New coach Will Muschamp had just been assigned as the new head coach, replacing Urban Meyer, and could not stand for such behaviour and made an example out of the young cornerback.
He could no longer don the uniform that made him famous in living rooms across the United States. But in the end, he had no one to blame but himself. Instead of signing up for the Supplemental draft, the troubled youngman decided to enroll at the University of North Alabama. He decided to not shy away from his troubles but take them head on.
I sat down with Janoris Jenkins so we could speak about his checkered past, his tremendous skills and what he expects of himself going forward.
I asked him about his time in Florida.
“I had some great years at Florida, and I really enjoyed it. I learned so much. Especially from Joe Haden, who taught me all he knew on and off the field. It was great to play in the same backfield as him. That’s a cornerback, who is just as good as I am. We had such a great defense, it was a privilege to play with guys like Joe, Brandon Spikes and Major Wright.”
In his first year in Gainesville, Jenkins became only the second true fresham to start at cornerback. The only other player who accomplished that feat was the aforementioned Joe Haden, who was the 7th pick of the 2010 draft. And I dare to say, Jenkins might be even more talented than the Cleveland Browns cornerback.
I asked him about coach Muschamp’s decision the expel him after his run ins with the law and his trouble with marihuana. Did he feel any resentment towards the coach for making him leave campus?
“Not at all. It was a terrible feeling, but I respect coach’s decision. I had caused the trouble I was in myself. What I did was wrong, not only towards myself but towards the school I hold in such high regard. I can truly say, I respect coach for telling me in person. He came up to me and told me, so I didn’t have to find out from someone else. I made some big mistakes and I knew it was time to face the music.”
The decision to join North Alabama took a lot of guts. I asked why he decided to enroll in a division 2 school, where he wouldn’t receive the attention from scouts he was used to.
“I didn’t want to run from my problems. I knew it was time to face reality. And on top of that, I knew I had to eliminate myself from certain guys who weren’t exactly helping me becoming a better man. If I could get away to a place where I didn’t know anyone, I could start all over. That’s what drove the decision mostly. And I just wanted to play ball. Sitting out a year was not an option. Just love football too much.”
How about the transition to a small school?
“The biggest adjustment was probably going from playing in front of 90000 screaming fans to 3500. And going from playing against guys like A.J Green and Julio Jones to playing against “I don’t know them”. But there’s definitely talent in Division II. They have some terrific athletes. And the coaches were just so nice, that made everything so much easier.”
Jenkins was still more than good enough in his senior year to be invited to the Seniorbowl. I asked him about that experience.
“It was great. Being coached by NFL coaches, getting to know different guys and going up against some of the best in the country. And everything was just so organized. But I came to prove what I can do and I think I did just that. I had a great week.”
Which receiver posed the toughest challenge?
“It was great going up against Juron Criner and Joe Adams. Guys that have teriffic ball skills. Especially Adams, if the rock touches his hand, he catches it.”
Jenkins touched on two guys with totally different skills sets and size. Does he view them all as the same?
“I don’t discriminate, haha. I mean, the smaller guys are quicker and I know I can stay with them. But if somebody’s 6ft5, I’m 6ft5. I don’t seperate players. I just go out there and compete. My conviction is I can cover anybody, no matter what your size or skill set.”
But you can’t play them all the same way, Janoris. Tell me how you would handle the different players you face and what coverages you prefer.
“The taller guys show signs of breaking down. They have to sink their hips, that’s when I react. And I try to look at that feet. They always plant their opposite foot. If they plant right, they can’t go right. So I try to jump it as soon as I see them plant. With the smaller guys, I watch their release. Are they taking a hard stim inside, then I know they’re not going deep. Watching their release tells me what they’re going to do. And I really don’t care what we play. I’m always relaxed. If it’s off or press, zone or man. I just go out and play as hard as I can.”
Is that the mentality you have going in?
“I have a lot of confidence. To me, it’s about focusing on technique and go out there and batlle each and every day. Just compete and have fun.”
I asked him what he thinks he brings to the table and what makes a good cornerback.
“Speed, quickness and good feet. It’s all about route recognition. Knowing what your opponent is doing. Reading the player across from you. You have to play with swag and confidence. Everybody gets beat every now and then. But being able to bounce back, is what makes you a great corner. Having short term memory and just lining up for the next play. You have to go right back at him.”
That might just be the most important part of playing corner on the Gridiron. Too many cornerbacks linger in their failures and refuse to get up and just play the next play. Like the great coach Lombardi once said. The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall. We will find out soon enough if Janoris Jenkinks has it in him to rise again. To me, there’s no doubt he can and will.
But he’s not an NFL superstar yet. There are things he needs to work on to become a better player. Is he aware of his weaknesses?
“I have to work on my off coverage. Just be ready to make a play. Most important thing is to make sure I stop peeking in the backfield. Sometimes I might peek a second to long, and that’s all the receiver needs to make his break and then I’ll be there too late.”
I wanted to go back to his Gator days. Why he chose the school and know more about what he learned there.
“I had offers from all the schools, except from USC and Texas. But coach Meyer offered me all I wanted. I knew it was the right decision. I did like Clemson a lot. Just love their colours. But I knew I made the right decision. I started as a freshman, everything was perfect. At Florida they had me on an island most of the time. In one on one coverage against guys like A.J. Green. Coach would give me speech before the game, but then it was up to me. Just go out and play”
How was it to play against the likes of Julio Jones and A.J. Green? And was it tougher to play in the SEC or go up against your teammates in what was one of the best college teams in recent history?
“It was an honour to go up against guys like Julio and A.J. They’re so strong, fast and have a terrific feeling for the ball. But it was even tougher to go up against my teammates in practice. They got me so much better. We always competed, worked on getting better and get each other ready for the games.”
Did he have anything to say to his Florida fans across the world.
“Thanks for sticking with me. For not giving up on me. Gator fans have been true fans and that meant a lot to me.”
I couldn’t let him go without asking about Tim Tebow. Because, to quote Seth Rogan, it gets the people going.
“Tim Tebow is just a great guy. A true leader that does everything the right way. When he talks everybody listens. We all learned so much from him, especially how to carry yourself. Just a terrific teammate.”
Now it’s time to put all he has learned to action. Because he’s been heavily scrutinized and everything he does is under the people’s microscope. He’s been catching a lot of grief by media and NFL personnel alike about his checkered past. But he’s so close to see his life long dream fulfilled. Jenkins still has first round pick written all over him. What’s he going to offer the team that will draft him?
“I’m hopeful I get drafted. The team that drafts me will get an adult Janoris Jenkins, who has learned from the past. They’ll get a coachable player. A team player. To me, it doesn’t matter where I go. Going to the NFL will be a dream come true. I’ve dreamt about this since the Pee-Wees. I want to make my mom and my family proud. The first thing I’ll do, is take care of my mother. Make sure she has all she needs. If I get drafted, it doesn’t matter where I end up. I’m just happy to be part of a team and do what I have to do. I’ll hit the weight room vigorously, become stronger and prepared for the NFL game. And I’m truly ready to do whatever the coaches need me to do ”
That means being ready to tackle these humongous running backs like Brandon Jacobs and monsters like Adrian Peterson who come around the corner.
“I’m ready to stick my nose in there to stop runners. Being physical is a big part of the game. I will play wherever coaches want me too. Special teams as a tackler, kick or punt returner. Just add value to the team. Who ever drafts me, they will get 100% of me.”
At the combine Jenkins had a great showing. “It’s about going out there and compete.” We all saw he might be the best out there in flipping his hips and opening up. His god-given ability is enormous. But Janoris Jenkins has a a lot to overcome. The good thing is, he sounds like a man on a mission. He definitely talked the talk. And now, it’s time to walk the walk. But as we all know, you can never underestimate a man with a chip on his shoulder. A man who’s heavily scrutinized, for whatever reason, and has everybody betting against him. Just ask his former teammate. Jenkins is ready to shock the world.
Sam Alzahawi is a writer for “USA Sports” in the Netherlands. A former professional football player himself, he now covers all of the NFL and College Football for the “USA Sports” publication. Follow him on twitter @SamAlzahawi.
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