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
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
9:54 pm
1/2 yrd short have to go for it
HighTech
December 30th, 2011
9:55 pm
I think a steam whistle blowing is the perfect punctuation for a first down.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
9:55 pm
48 interest? Tell me you FLAVOR!
http://www.atlantahaulitallinc.com/Bird_Houses.php
HighTech
December 30th, 2011
9:55 pm
Dawg…Did you see George Rogers at the Heisman ceremony? He looked like John Coffey from The Green Mile.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
9:56 pm
HT I still LOVE the Whistle.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
9:57 pm
High tech I was only a year old then…..lol
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
9:58 pm
HT check the link for my hobby.
http://www.atlantahaulitallinc.com/Bird_Houses.php
Friend lets me use a page on his site. Email if you want to make a suggestion or selection. He will forward them to me.
HighTech
December 30th, 2011
9:58 pm
You are a youngster. I was talking about this year’s ceremony.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:00 pm
Moma bailey should get a spot in the Butts – Mehre building!
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:01 pm
HT
No I missed it.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
10:01 pm
48 then WHY the 48? Rogers was the 80 GT COACH’S Trophy Winner.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:03 pm
Jimmie Johnson fan
HighTech
December 30th, 2011
10:04 pm
SMART…Those are some nice birdhouses. I appreciate your art. Was the driftwood from Jekyll Island?
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
10:07 pm
I played football with Harry Mehre III at NYO and against him when he was at Riverwood. I played against Wes Prichett that played for Notre Dame, Shan Morris (larry morris from Tech) and Denton Shamburger Auburn all at Northside Youth Organization at Chastian Park.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:09 pm
Smart
What years?
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
10:10 pm
No Sea Island. I do it for pleasure and ADs for companies. The Barnhart & Durham is visible on their TV show of their radio broadcast.
DAMN I am P.Oed
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:11 pm
SEC.SEC.SEC.SEC.SEC.
Sorry I had to……
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
10:11 pm
well from 72 as a CHILD to 79 in middle school.
HighTech
December 30th, 2011
10:11 pm
I like Dawg48’s handle. I should change mine to Jacket99. Ford Racing #1.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:14 pm
Iowa or Oklahoma?
I’m going with Iowa, 2 reasons
1 Oklahoma sucks in bowls
2 they had all those great aspirations and a disappointing season.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
10:15 pm
ACC……………….SEC
Clemson over Auburn…………1-0
Clemson loss USC…………….1-1
Wake loss Vandy……………….1-2
FSU over Gators………………..2-2
Tech loss UGa……………………2-3
Wake loss Miss St……………….2-4
UVa……..Auburn…………………
UNC Loss Mizzou………………*****
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
10:15 pm
The ACC can’t win more against the SEC now.
Jacket99
December 30th, 2011
10:16 pm
Iowa can be a formidable bowl opponent. I agree with Dawg’s analysis.
Jacket99
December 30th, 2011
10:17 pm
UVa has a good chance against Auburn. Maybe we can put our conference allegiance aside and agree to hate Auburn.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:18 pm
HT
My dads best friend worked for Ford credit.
He took took me to some races when I was young. Loved NASCAR since.
It’s going downhill though.
Jacket99
December 30th, 2011
10:19 pm
Dawg…You still gotta be there. In the infield at Talladega or at the night race at Bristol. It’s awesome.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
10:20 pm
99? I was a 6 fan until Mark went Chevy. Well that is because Roush did Mark Bad with the TV show to make Regan a driver when MARK was sure Jack Roush was going to develop Matt Martin(his son) for the CUP team. Mark still ownes a Ford dealership and sell Roush products but the LOVE is gone.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:20 pm
I hate AUBURN!
I think auburn has to many inside distractions going on right now. I’m taking Virginia.
Jacket99
December 30th, 2011
10:21 pm
Rusty Wallace was one to follow before Carl Edwards. Favorite driver was David Pearson back when I became a NASCAR fan.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:23 pm
Been to talladega , never Bristol…
I want to go to darlington before NASCAR drops it off the schedule.
I remember the first time I saw Edwards drive, in the 99 truck at ATL, no sponsor but drove the wheels of it.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
10:25 pm
Talladega is still the MOST FAN FRIENDLY race. Daytona got TOO Big and you can’t camp in the parking lots on the beach then drive to the track. I remember cutting lines(in 85) and driving to the parking lot for the race. Times have changed, but so have I. LOL the dumb stuff you do when young with NO FEAR.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:26 pm
I loved the 3 car…. But never took to jr.
I started pulling for car 48 his rookie year about 8 or 9 races in.
Jacket99
December 30th, 2011
10:26 pm
You’ve got to go to Bristol in August. It is NASCAR Mecca. Are they going to drop Darlington off the schedule? I would have thought they would drop Martinsville off before they would drop Darlington.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:26 pm
Oklahoma is making me look stupid!
Jacket99
December 30th, 2011
10:27 pm
I’m done. Enjoyed it.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
10:28 pm
Pearson? Bobby Allison then DAVIE. You ready to FIGHT? LOL
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
10:29 pm
SEE the LONGER we chat we ALL find common ground and bridges are made until thr UGa v GT game. LOL
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:29 pm
99
No but they seem to be dropping the “OLD TRACKS” and moving into TV money markets.
I’m just guessing it wail happen.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:31 pm
Lol
That’s clean old fashioned hate baby!
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:31 pm
99
See ya.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
10:32 pm
The ROCK and the MONSTER will not go away, but I never thought AMS would lose the Last race of the year either. I do like the Holiday weekend for the ATL race. It does make for a LONG party.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
10:33 pm
48 I can’t believe we all found more LOVE than hate. HAHAAAHHAH
What do you drive?
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
10:34 pm
Stuffed nice D play.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:35 pm
Smart
Just sucks cause it’s the first weekend of college ball.
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:36 pm
Ford
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:37 pm
Fords are like Georgia Saturdays!
Lol
kerryb
December 30th, 2011
10:37 pm
I saw earlier where someone posted that Orson Charles was a top 15 pick. There has only been 3 TE’s in the last 10 years drafted in the top 15. Vernon Davis, Kellen Winslow Jr. and Jeremy Shockey. Most TE’s are drafted between the 25-30 picks if they are drafted in the first round at all. If Charles gets a 25-30 pick grade should go? Maybe if he came back another year he could get close to the top 15.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 30th, 2011
10:39 pm
I know but the 1st week can be WEAK for mos games. I can spend a weekend at AMS and watch the games on the computer and the PARTY LIVE. You like the bird houses? Give me some stuff and i can make you a NASCAR house. If you want. Price is based on the materials.
Sven Ottke
December 30th, 2011
10:39 pm
That’s because he’s so fat, he’d eat the entire buffet in the Green Room. NFL = No Fatboy League
Dawg48
December 30th, 2011
10:39 pm
How did the SUN BOWL get on CBS?
And not ESPN