NG John Jenkins changes tune, says he’ll definitely return for senior season
DE DeAngelo Tyson (L-R), LB Michael Gilliard and OLB Sterling Bailey all had to watch practice from the sidelines Friday due to injuries. That's OL Xzavier Ward in the background. (Photo by Chip Towers)
TAMPA – Upon further review, Georgia’s John Jenkins said Friday he’s definitely coming back for his senior season.
The 6-foot-3, 351-pound noseguard has waffled about whether or not to turn pro after his one and only season with the Bulldogs. He requested an NFL draft evaulation earlier this month and said earlier this week he was going to give the pros serious consideration.
But then Jenkins said before Friday morning’s practice he’d decided he’d definitely remain a Bulldog another season.
“That’s where I belong, I belong at Georgia another year,” said Jenkins, a six-game starter this season. “I believe at the end of next year I’d have no choice but to be ready.”
Jenkins said he had not yet received his draft grade back from the NFL’s advisory board. But he said didn’t need to see what it said.
“Unless it’s first round, then I’d be a dumb guy not to go out,” he said. “But I don’t think that’s what I’m going to get. I think everybody knows I need to come back and polish up more with Coach [Rodney] Garner behind me. That’s what I need to do.”
With his size and athleticism, Jenkins is clearly an eventual NFL player. He has progressed exponentially during his six months at UGA. He went from playing behind sophomore Kwame Geathers to becoming a six-game starter. He enters the Outback Bowl with 28 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 10 quarterback pressures. All are exemplary numbers at a position primarily designed to tie up interior blockers.
Jenkins is one of several Georgia underclassmen considering entering the NFL draft. Safety Bacarri Rambo said Thursday he had received a third-round draft grade from the NFL and was still “50-50″ on the decision whether to stay or go. Tight end Orson Charles is also thinking about it, as is outside linebacker Cornelius Washington and a few other players.
The Bulldogs have the ultimate resource at their disposal in Todd Grantham, who spent 11 years in the NFL before coming to Georgia as defensive coordinator. He sees it as a fairly simple decision for these young men.
“If you’re not a top 15 pick you should stay in school,” Grantham stated flatly. “If you’re a top 15 pick, the amount of money that you make you can justify it. But if you’re not, you should work to become that. Because if you look at the guaranteed money you make up at the top is so great, you can actually make money by staying. You go from being a middle second-round pick to a bottom first- or top-second-round pick, you’re talking hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. You can make that by working hard.”
That said, Grantham said he doesn’t flat out tell a player he should stay or go.
“Each individual is different and each individual has to make their own decisions,” he said. “We’re going to do what’s best for them.
“I’ll talk to them and give them my view as far as pluses and minuses for all good players and just lay it out there for them. I want to make sure they make an educated, wise decision that’s best for them and their future. But if you’re not a top 15 pick you need to be working to become that.”
– Chip Towers
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410 comments Add your comment
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
7:55 pm
Lol
I bet it will run on MR Boston……
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
7:57 pm
Don’t break any rules while your away like PHIL SMITH!
ARdawg
December 30th, 2011
7:59 pm
Mr Boston makes a dandy eggnog
Fair and Balanced
December 30th, 2011
8:00 pm
The NFL should make it a requirement that in order to qualify to be a professional you must have a college degree. This is true in most professional fields so…….
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:01 pm
I don’t do a PHIL. I pay them to come to the house and LEAVE when I am done.
1st down.
ARdawg
December 30th, 2011
8:01 pm
It would appear the annual SEC domination of the bowls has began
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 30th, 2011
8:02 pm
Free agent at best for Mr. Jenkins. You UGA cry so well. Ole Nick Saban is cheating in recruiting!!!! LOL…Nick doesn’t give a scholly to each players best friend sport!!!! Mark Richt can’t manange his roster and that is his fault! Suck it jawjaw.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
8:03 pm
Mullen got PO!
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:05 pm
See we can have fun chatting about the game.
ARdawg
December 30th, 2011
8:05 pm
Oh wow, the resident bandwagon Bammer fan
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:06 pm
NICE D
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:07 pm
AR he doesn’t know we dropped the attitude and are now having fun.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
8:07 pm
Wet Willie
A jaw jaw fan did not say that!
Sport!
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:07 pm
BS I think that looked Bang Bang
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:08 pm
That was a BAD BAD call. Miss St had the ball and was hit clean.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
8:09 pm
It was bang bang alright!
BANG he got hit, then BANG he hit the ground!
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:10 pm
48 I got to take a break. i have to clean up some ribs and butt to get in the smoker. I will be back soon.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:13 pm
WOW wow with 14sec
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
8:13 pm
Spike it!
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
8:16 pm
3 freaking turnovers!
JAY
December 30th, 2011
8:17 pm
LOVE MY DAWGS AND WOULDNT DISCOURAGE A KID WHO CAN MAKE MILLIONS FROM GOING PRO….BUT GOTTA KEEP IT REAL….ORSON CHARLES SHOULD STAY/ HE’S A GOOD TE FOR THE COLLEGE GAME BUT HE IS UNDERSIZED FOR THE NFL, LOOK AT THE GUYS WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL AT THAT LEVEL THEY ARE 6 FOOT 4 AND ABOVE…AGAIN I LOVE ORSON CHARLES TO DEATH BUT PART OF A TIGHT ENDS JOB IN THE NFL IS RUN AND PASS BLOCKING. IMAGINE ORSON CHARLES BLOCKING JULIUS PEPPERS, DWIGHT FREENEY, DEMARCUS WARE AND OTHERS, HE’S JUST NOT BIG ENOUGH TO HANDLE THAT….STAY, PACK ON MORE WEIGHT AND BUILD A BIGGER AND BADDER PORTFOLIO…OUR DAWGS ARE ALWAYS GOING PRO WITH MINIMAL SUCCESS….GREG BLUE NO LONGER IN THE LEAGUE, REGGIE BROWN NO LONGER IN THE LEAGUE, DEMARIO MINTER NO LONGER IN THE LEAGUE AND ON AND ON….
'94 UGA Alumni
December 30th, 2011
8:24 pm
Jarvis Jones needs to play another year to show he’s durable and fully recovered from the neck injury he suffered while playing for USC. There’s no questioning his talent but NFL scouts may have questions about his injury at USC.
Coach Ray Goff
December 30th, 2011
8:27 pm
John Jenkins should go pro while he’s healthy and has the opportunity. There is plenty of time later to get that Child & Family Development degree.
CTG Punches Himself in the Face
December 30th, 2011
8:33 pm
The Bulldogs have the ultimate resource at their disposal in Todd Grantham, who spent 11 years in the NFL before coming to Georgia as defensive coordinator. He sees it as a fairly simple decision for these young men.
What a good example he sets for everyone. Chokedawg picks a fight and punches himself in the mouth.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:39 pm
48 are you back? Guys are y’all back for the 2nd half?
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:40 pm
48 is upset he didn’t get to rub my butt. LOL
If you like give this a try.
TAKE sugar in the RAW or Agave…………mix in water with Makers Mark.
bring to a boil
Drop the butt or ribs in the mix and let boil for 1 to 2 min.
Pull out and dip in Brown Sugar/ Makers Mark 2 x 4 mix
let hang and drip
place in smoker at 120 to 130 and smoke for 8 to 12 hours depending on the size
I like Hickory and Pecan wood to smoke
Pull from the smoker and do your DRY rub.
mine has Dill, Vidalia onions, Cayenne, Red, and Green peppers chopped fine.
With mine being sweet in the first cooking process I like a Vinegar base BBQ sauce to pint on the meat as it finish cooks. If you like the tomato bases wait until later in the cooking process so as not to burn the sauce on the meat too early.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
8:41 pm
Yea….
Are you threw basting your meat?
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:43 pm
Rub my butt and tickle my ribs.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:44 pm
WOW bad FACEMASK on a good play
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:47 pm
1st down back in the game………..I hope!
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
8:47 pm
Smart
Check this seasoning out.
I started using it instead of cayenne pepper.
I picked it up in Louisiana.
http://www.cajunpowersauce.com/product.cfm?p=08ACC850-BD9C-8078-8AA97E34C35E88B5
TampaDawg
December 30th, 2011
8:47 pm
Who’s going to the game?
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:48 pm
It is a BALL GAME again.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:50 pm
I will save that Link. i have worked on mine for a few years now & i like to play with my meat to my taste. LOL
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
8:50 pm
Tampadawg
I wish I could…….can’t make it to the bowl game this year.
TampaDawg
December 30th, 2011
8:51 pm
I see Wet Willie is back with episode of “crap that makes no sense” .. This is my favorite part:
“Ole Nick Saban is cheating in recruiting!!!! ”
Notice the lack of question marks there so I guess he is just admitting it rather than questioning it.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:52 pm
I got it saved. Thanks 48. See some people have fun and enjoy the game after all the poison is gone.
I am in palmetto, ga what part of town are you in again?
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
8:55 pm
I cover what ever I’m smoking with yellow mustard.
Then put that Cajunrub, brown sugar, minced onion, and ground Cumin.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:56 pm
TAMPA I am not a dawg, but a buddy has plans to do a HIGH SPEED run in his Donzi from Plantation Key to the BAY and go to the game. i wish i was down with him just for the RIDE.
INT in the EZ. Go Wake.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
8:56 pm
Cartersville GA
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
8:57 pm
4 turn overs!
Smart your up by 2 now!
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
8:59 pm
OK You are around the perimeter and up 75 farther than I am outside the perimeter down 85. You should be able to make the Possum Drop with ease. LMAO send pictures.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
9:00 pm
P.O.A.Bd……………a Miss St Bulldog.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
9:01 pm
Smart
That has to be the most hillbilly thing I have heard of in a long time!
Lol
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
9:03 pm
NICE Grab on that play.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
9:03 pm
Miss st should not be in this game with 4 turnovers!
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
9:05 pm
Smart
Are you having a family get together?
Since your firing up the smoker.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
9:06 pm
48 but don’t you think you could get some SHINE and a hummer from a tooth impaired chick?
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
9:09 pm
Is that the PROPER way to call toothless people?
Tooth impaired?
Are they still working on 85 heading toward Alabama?
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
9:11 pm
The cowbells are better than the milk jugs and BB’s that the football moms have.