Grantham: John Jenkins will ‘make immediate impact’ on defense … and might play a bit on offense
ATHENS — Todd Grantham might have been the happiest guy in Stegeman Coliseum for Saturday’s Georgia-Auburn basketball game.
The Georgia football team’s defensive coordinator found out for sure Saturday afternoon that he will have 6-foot-4, 340-pound junior-college star John Jenkins at nose guard next season.
“I think he’ll make an immediate impact,” Grantham said in an interview at halftime of the basketball game.
Grantham wasn’t surprised that Jenkins chose Georgia, but “you never really know until it’s official. We knew he liked us a lot. We knew he felt like this was home. We thought we [showed] him he was needed and how he could fit in.”
Jenkins, who starred the past two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, announced his decision to sign with Georgia at a news conference at his former high school in Connecticut. UGA confirmed that it has, indeed, received Jenkins’ signed letter of intent.
Grantham said the addition of Jenkins will allow the Bulldogs to move DeAngelo Tyson from nose to defensive end, his preferred position in the 3-4 defense.
“What it does is, [it] allows us to add a bigger man to the front,” Grantham said. “Because size does matter, and I think he’ll help fill a need for us.”
While the need is for a nose, Grantham didn’t rule out the possibility of Jenkins also getting a bit of action on . . . offense.
“There might be a play or two for him,” a grinning Grantham said. “If you look back, there have been some big guys that have lined up in the backfield before.”
On Jenkins’ reported desire to wear jersey No. 6, a still-grinning Grantham said: “If you’re gonna play in the backfield, you’ve gotta have an eligible number, right?”
On another topic, Grantham said Georgia “obviously could go a couple different ways” in filling the defensive coaching position vacated by the departure this week of inside linebackers coach Warren Belin to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.
“We’re basically in the process of looking at it right now,” Grantham said. “We’re going to hire the best person for Georgia and the best fit for Georgia.”
Although Belin coached inside linebackers, the job posting placed Friday on UGA’s employment website identifies the open position as a defensive-ends coach. That would seem to suggest a shuffling of defensive coaching responsibilities is at least being contemplated, but Grantham said: “I wouldn’t put any stock in that. We’re going to hire the best person for Georgia.”
– Tim Tucker, The UGA Blog
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159 comments Add your comment
ViningsDawg
February 5th, 2011
6:02 pm
58 DAWG whatever you are eating, drinking, or smoking, put it down. It is making you delusional.
Sorry but Jenkins won;t factor against someone like Auburn when they go into uptempo. Cody was a no factor against them. Jenkins is good but we can only count on him for 18-20 plays a game.
Cuzz Sawya
February 5th, 2011
6:11 pm
I hate to tell you dawg fans , this guy Jenkins will be on the sidelene huffing & puffing for air against teams like Tech, Boise State, Auburn this is not JUCO FOOTBALL . He needs to lose about 10-20 lbs.
Walter Sobchak
February 5th, 2011
6:16 pm
I didn’t watch my buddies die face down in the muck just to listen to some naysayer like Cuzz Sawya. Jenkins might just help us out like Mt. Cody did Alabama. Furthermore…you could train for an Ironman in the time we have before the first game. Am I wrong? Am I wrong Dude?
perk
February 5th, 2011
6:21 pm
I don’t usually get too excited about a recruit. Hi-eva….this guy ain’t no freshmen. He is a a big big man that CTG needed for his scheme. However many plays he gets in for a game – he will make a huge impact. Congrats to CMR and his entire staff for a post season job well done.
340 lbs
February 5th, 2011
6:22 pm
I love the size of our new lb crew. All around 230+. Samuel, J.Jones, and Turene. Somebody needs to beef up Christian Robinson to at least 225! C.Washington needs to beef up too.
Calhoundawg
February 5th, 2011
6:22 pm
ZERO Arrests !!!!!! I’m going to say it every day on every blog. This is the part of our program most in need of correction and is the number one sign of whether we have truly turned a corner. ZERO Arrests and everything else will follow suit. Go Dawgs !!!
Dawg 1
February 5th, 2011
6:26 pm
A good test.
Trash talk from the outside always a good indicator.
mowreck
February 5th, 2011
6:30 pm
I hope that big ole boy don’t hurt one of his own players when he falls on him after we “cut” block him … hehehe
Brainiac(Dawg for life)
February 5th, 2011
6:31 pm
P{rince of Alabama: You must be new to this part of the country. Richt has a winning record against Alabama and the Cow College. Check your info……..if you have any.
DougSearch
February 5th, 2011
6:31 pm
I don’t want him carrying the ball. I still remember when Grant did and got hurt.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)
February 5th, 2011
6:33 pm
Ray Drew: Wesalute you and most of us realize that you had more to do with our fantastic recruitng success than did our coaches. If, for any reason, you do not have a NFL career we need you to help us recruit. You da man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Inquiring Mind
February 5th, 2011
6:36 pm
Jenkins makes 26 LOIs. With 2 gray shirts counting toward last year’s class we have signed 24 in this class. 25/85 rule leaves us one more potential signee. Has CMR or other indicated the class is closed, or is it possible we sign one more? If so, any thoughts on who? For example, Is Dexter Staley or someone else unsigned an option that coaches are looking at, or are we done for the year?
SEC Observer
February 5th, 2011
6:37 pm
Now we know why Richt didn’t go for it on 4th and 6 inches in the first quarter against that powerful Central Fl squad. He didn’t have Jenkins to run the ball in that situation.
Dawg
February 5th, 2011
6:44 pm
We have room for Clowney.
mcdaris324
February 5th, 2011
6:45 pm
We need to give Ray Drew a good nickname Pastor of Disaster!!!!!!!!!!!
Michael
February 5th, 2011
6:48 pm
is Bruce Figgins not a big enough fullback already? lol
Dap01
February 5th, 2011
6:58 pm
What is the story with Clowney? What % chance does UGA have?
Columbus
February 5th, 2011
7:22 pm
Mr. Dawg and 58Dawg…..We are one in the same. Richt is one of the best coaches in the country, but no matter how good the coach, some “teams” are not winners for various reasons. It is so refresing to hear some intelligent voices on here! Go Dawgs!
Walter Sobchak
February 5th, 2011
7:22 pm
I thought Clowney was down to USCe and Clempson. I think getting that kid would be a miracle.
Columbus
February 5th, 2011
7:24 pm
I like that McDaris324…Pastor of Disaster!
Dawgman in south GA
February 5th, 2011
7:29 pm
Im not very high on CMR at the moment, but I gotta give it to him he landed a monster class this year.
Gulf Shores Dawg
February 5th, 2011
7:30 pm
To the silly prince of bama…in recent years we beat Bama, Auburn, and Troy in the same year…we own alabamer…now, go back to the trailer park or we shut off your water from the Hooch!
woebegong
February 5th, 2011
7:31 pm
DAP01,
All the script I have read from the recruiting services sounds like he will not be coming to UGA. Stranger things have happened before, but I do not think it will be UGA. It might be beneficial to have one scholarship open, and then we could possibly get one of the 2012 recruits signed in the spring and not have him count against 2012 limits. Looks like it worked out pretty well for us with LeMay and Conley counting against 2010. We may need the room, because if UGA winds it up pretty much this year, we will have a much easier time getting more of our Georgia atheletes to stay home, and our national recruiting efforts should bear more fruit.
King Gators
February 5th, 2011
7:46 pm
With this years recruiting class and all the nicknames, etc. I think the Athens PD should be called the “Dream Police” in keeping with the spirit of this class and the fact that it won’t be long before the two are introduced. Go Gators!
BigGAdawg
February 5th, 2011
7:56 pm
Real UGA Fan & Dawg, you are both spot on. Nobody is happy with the Win/Loss record for the last two years, least of CMR but there are too many Wal-Mart Dogs (their only connection to UGA is the hat they bought at Wal-Mart,) on here who know nothing about football other than Win/Loss records. That is the most important stat but it is not the complete picture of a season. If I were going to blame someone for last seasons record I would start with AJ Green who IMO cost us at least three games by his suspension. Add to that the other players who got themselves suspended for stupid behaviors off the field.
Everyone needs to remember that the bar is set so high because CMR set it there. Everyone needs to remember that while some of these super outstanding recruits will be able to make an impact as true freshmen, most of them will take a couple of years to really come into their own.
The future does look bright and I am especially looking forward to seeing John Jenkins on the field along with Isaiah Crowell, Richard Samuel, Rev. Ray, Jay Rome, etc.
JoeFan
February 5th, 2011
8:02 pm
He might make an impact if he had the coaching but what makes anyone believe that the lightbulb has suddenly gone on and this “dream team” will lead UGA to the promise land when it hasn’t happened before with all the top 10 classes?
BigDawg
February 5th, 2011
8:11 pm
Richt has done his best job ever! Competition will be intense for positions, also like adding Thomas Brown to strength and conditioning team. Time to GATA!
Lakedawg
February 5th, 2011
8:12 pm
JoeFan–check the record last 10 years in SEC and tell us who the best coach is?
THE CORK
February 5th, 2011
8:14 pm
John Jenkins more appropriate alias is “THE CORK” as he will plug all those holes in the trenches.
THE CORK
February 5th, 2011
8:20 pm
John Jenkins aka THE CORK will plug all those GT bug’s hives. You will not hear any buzz while he is around.
1962 Dawg
February 5th, 2011
8:49 pm
Wouldn’t want to be the B-back at Tech for the next few seasons!!
THE CORK
February 5th, 2011
9:22 pm
John Jenkins is THE BIG CORK that will plug all those holes or leaks in the tranches.
jack bull
February 5th, 2011
9:24 pm
that’s awesome, but here’s my issue with Coach Grantham, didn’t we hear him say this time last year that “size doesn’t matter, because we will run a one gap scheme……” blah blah blah… Coach, as a small donor to the program, this is an question i want answered, why did you take us for idiots last year with those statements? and yes, i am obviously still upset with that…..
one more thing, i’m not even remotely sold on your defense either….
Go Dawgs!!!
jack bull
February 5th, 2011
9:26 pm
***this is A question i want answered*** sorry spelling/grammer police..
Mark (another one)
February 5th, 2011
9:34 pm
I think this gives the Dawgs an All SEC defensive end next year in Tyson. This kid took one for the team by playing out of position last year. I am looking forward to seeing him driving OTs back on their heels.
chickenman
February 5th, 2011
9:34 pm
Jenkins is a beast. Should be a dam good dawg
va.dawg
February 5th, 2011
9:41 pm
bob dawg where have u been hiding since Richt took the head sst off??
Carlton
February 5th, 2011
9:41 pm
I like all the people saying he won’t get more than 18-20 plays a game because of “up-tempo” offenses and because Jenkins is from a Junior College. Umm..didn’t Nick Fairley and Mt. Cody come from JUCO’s also and didn’t Nick Fairley just have a monster game against the FASTEST offense in the land in Oregon? I don’t know where these assumptions about Jenkins come from..?
AND hate to say it Auburn fans, you won’t be as fast this year on offense. Losing Cam Newton (a running QB-perfect for Gus Malzahn’s system) and losing your leading Wide Receiver leads one to think AU won’t be as strong offensively next year. Lest we forget-Auburn could have EASILY lost 4-5 games last year if they didn’t have Cam Newton..
Brucerugby79
February 5th, 2011
9:42 pm
when we put 5 tight ends on the field at once with jenkins running behind Figgins–and a big Thank you to Rev Drew what a leader at a young age—Ray keep everybody out of trouble—I’ll tell you who is in trouble now is Boise st-the Dome will be electric
Carlton
February 5th, 2011
9:42 pm
Oh-not to mention Auburn losing 4 of 5 starting offensive linemen too..that doesn’t quite help either..
south
February 5th, 2011
9:43 pm
King Gator – UF has as many or more arrests than UGA in the last year…want me to send you a list??
Florida’s Jenkins arrested on drug charge
Published: Jan. 25, 2011 at 2:15 PM
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 25 (UPI) — University of Florida football player Janoris Jenkins has been arrested on marijuana charges, his second arrest in 20 months, authorities said.
daddydog
February 5th, 2011
10:26 pm
I believe Dexter Staley is going to GMC.
Denver Dog
February 5th, 2011
10:26 pm
Well here is a Gator Fan talking about arrests and next it will be an Auburn fan, blah blah blah. When I was in school at UGA the campus police arrested me for saying “hell” after midnight. They pride themselves on being “top cops”, but basically they are nothing more than glorified “barney fifes”. Every school has arrests, even Vandy. So why don’t we all just give that crap a rest. I suppose that King Gator equates drug busts the same as riding a Scooter up the wrong way on a street.
Glad we had a good class, looking forward the Jenkins and Geathers making some good stops.
L.A. BULLDAWG
February 5th, 2011
10:27 pm
DEANGELO TYSON AT ONE END, RAY DREW AT THE OTHER, AND BIG JOHN HENKINS ON THE NOSE! THAT FRONT WILL DOMINATE SEC OFFENSES THIS YEAR! GOOD JOB ON RECRUITING THIS YEAR! GO DAWGS!
Geaux
February 5th, 2011
10:44 pm
Another recruiting championship. My goodness we are really scared now. How dominate you mighty hairy dogs will be. shiver.
JE
February 5th, 2011
10:54 pm
Hope the defense does not have to hit hard on the field four full quarters. Hopefully the offensive scheme will be good enough to keep them on the sideline long enough to for them to be fresh vs the other teams offenses….Something the Offense did not do this year.
JE
February 5th, 2011
10:54 pm
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Carlton
February 5th, 2011
10:56 pm
Hey Geaux-didn’t we beat y’all in 2008, 2005 and 2004? Sounds like our recruiting classes have been beating y’all the past few years. 3-1 since 2002. Get off our blog delirious..
Carlton
February 5th, 2011
10:57 pm
a
Carlton
February 5th, 2011
10:58 pm
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