Jelani Jenkins
Encyclopedia
Jelani Jenkins is an American football
player. He currently starts at linebacker
for the University of Florida
. Jenkins was one of the highest ranked college recruits in the high school class of 2009.
in Olney, Maryland
. As a junior he played full back
and linebacker
. He rushed for 1129 yards and 42 touchdowns at running back and had 60 tackles, four sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, and recovered two fumbles at linebacker. As a senior Jenkins rushed for 22 touchdowns and made 70 tackles. He was the first player in the 71-year history of the District's Pigskin Club to earn both Defensive Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. He was recognized as a Parade
magazine All-American and was chosen to play in the 2009 Under Armour All-America Game
.
ranked him the #10 overall recruit and #2 at linebacker. Jenkins announced his decision to attend Florida on National Signing Day
, February 4, 2009.
his initial year at Florida, appearing in only two games with two registered tackles.
In his second year as a Gator, Jenkins began the season as the team's starting middle linebacker, a role which he held throughout most of the year. Despite the Gators'
struggles, Jenkins developed into one of the squad's defensive leaders. He finished the season second on the team in tackles with 73, and also recorded one interception and one fumble recovery. At the conclusion of the season, Jenkins was voted to the 2010 Freshman All-American team by the Southeastern Conference
coaches.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He currently starts at linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
. Jenkins was one of the highest ranked college recruits in the high school class of 2009.
High school
Jenkins attended Our Lady Good CounselOur Lady of Good Counsel High School (Montgomery County, Maryland)
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School is a private, Catholic, college-preparatory high school in Olney, an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington....
in Olney, Maryland
Olney, Maryland
Olney, a census-designated place and an unincorporated area of Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, is located in the north central part of the county, twenty miles north of Washington, D.C. It was largely agricultural until the 1960s, when growth of the Washington suburbs led to its conversion into...
. As a junior he played full back
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He rushed for 1129 yards and 42 touchdowns at running back and had 60 tackles, four sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, and recovered two fumbles at linebacker. As a senior Jenkins rushed for 22 touchdowns and made 70 tackles. He was the first player in the 71-year history of the District's Pigskin Club to earn both Defensive Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. He was recognized as a Parade
Parade (magazine)
Parade is an American nationwide Sunday newspaper magazine, distributed in more than 500 newspapers in the United States. It was founded in 1941 and is owned by Advance Publications. The most widely read magazine in the U.S., Parade has a circulation of 32.2 million and a readership of nearly 70...
magazine All-American and was chosen to play in the 2009 Under Armour All-America Game
Under Armour All-America Game
The Under Armour High School All-America Game is a high school football all-star game typically held in early January in the U.S. state of Florida created to spotlight the nation’s top high school seniors. The game was first played on January 5, 2008 and is annually been played at the Citrus Bowl...
.
Recruiting
Jenkins was one of the top high school football players in the class of 2009. Scout.com ranked him as the #7 overall player and the #1 linebacker, while Rivals.comRivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
ranked him the #10 overall recruit and #2 at linebacker. Jenkins announced his decision to attend Florida on National Signing Day
National Signing Day
National Signing Day most commonly refers to a day in February, usually on the first Wednesday of that month, which is the first day that a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent for college football with a school that is a member of the NCAA, the main governing body for...
, February 4, 2009.
College career
Jenkins redshirtedRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his initial year at Florida, appearing in only two games with two registered tackles.
In his second year as a Gator, Jenkins began the season as the team's starting middle linebacker, a role which he held throughout most of the year. Despite the Gators'
2010 Florida Gators football team
The 2010 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2010 college football season...
struggles, Jenkins developed into one of the squad's defensive leaders. He finished the season second on the team in tackles with 73, and also recorded one interception and one fumble recovery. At the conclusion of the season, Jenkins was voted to the 2010 Freshman All-American team by the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
coaches.