We’re now down to the final 15 in our countdown of the SEC’s 25 best players, and this next guy is the first Gator to crack the list.
No. 15: Janoris Jenkins, CB, Jr., Florida
2009 numbers: Recorded 38 tackles, including three for loss. Intercepted two passes and also forced a fumble.
Most recent ranking: Not ranked in preseason or postseason countdown in 2009.
Making the case for Jenkins: The 5-11, 186-pound Jenkins has been a fixture in the Florida secondary since the start of his true freshman season. He became just the second true freshman in school history to start at cornerback on opening day. The fact that Jenkins wears No. 1 should tell you plenty about what kind of football player he is. The No. 1 jersey at Florida is reserved for the best of the best. The two guys who had No. 1 before Jenkins were Percy Harvin and Reggie Nelson. An outstanding all-around athlete, Jenkins returns as one of the most established cornerbacks in the SEC. He’s a sure tackler who prides himself on being able to lock down on anybody. We should find out even more about Jenkins as a player and leader in 2010 now that Joe Haden won’t be on the other side at cornerback, but Jenkins is ready to take on that leadership role. He grew up a lot last season following his arrest in the offseason and then struggled through a subpar game against Arkansas when Greg Childs beat him for a couple of long gainers. But Jenkins recovered nicely and is poised to make his mark as one of the top cornerbacks in the country this coming season.
The rundown
No. 16: Mark Barron, S, Jr., Alabama
No.17: Darvin Adams, WR, Jr., Auburn
No. 18: Alshon Jeffery, WR, So., South Carolina
No. 19: D.J. Williams, TE, Sr., Arkansas
No. 20: Cliff Matthews, DE, Sr., South Carolina
No. 21: Clint Boling, OT, Sr., Georgia
No. 22: Greg Childs, WR, Jr., Arkansas
No. 23: Washaun Ealey, RB, So., Georgia
No. 24: Chris Marve, LB, Jr., Vanderbilt
No. 25: Luke Stocker, TE, Sr., Tennessee
No. 15: Janoris Jenkins, CB, Jr., Florida
2009 numbers: Recorded 38 tackles, including three for loss. Intercepted two passes and also forced a fumble.
Most recent ranking: Not ranked in preseason or postseason countdown in 2009.
Making the case for Jenkins: The 5-11, 186-pound Jenkins has been a fixture in the Florida secondary since the start of his true freshman season. He became just the second true freshman in school history to start at cornerback on opening day. The fact that Jenkins wears No. 1 should tell you plenty about what kind of football player he is. The No. 1 jersey at Florida is reserved for the best of the best. The two guys who had No. 1 before Jenkins were Percy Harvin and Reggie Nelson. An outstanding all-around athlete, Jenkins returns as one of the most established cornerbacks in the SEC. He’s a sure tackler who prides himself on being able to lock down on anybody. We should find out even more about Jenkins as a player and leader in 2010 now that Joe Haden won’t be on the other side at cornerback, but Jenkins is ready to take on that leadership role. He grew up a lot last season following his arrest in the offseason and then struggled through a subpar game against Arkansas when Greg Childs beat him for a couple of long gainers. But Jenkins recovered nicely and is poised to make his mark as one of the top cornerbacks in the country this coming season.
The rundown
No. 16: Mark Barron, S, Jr., Alabama
No.17: Darvin Adams, WR, Jr., Auburn
No. 18: Alshon Jeffery, WR, So., South Carolina
No. 19: D.J. Williams, TE, Sr., Arkansas
No. 20: Cliff Matthews, DE, Sr., South Carolina
No. 21: Clint Boling, OT, Sr., Georgia
No. 22: Greg Childs, WR, Jr., Arkansas
No. 23: Washaun Ealey, RB, So., Georgia
No. 24: Chris Marve, LB, Jr., Vanderbilt
No. 25: Luke Stocker, TE, Sr., Tennessee
- ESPN.com SEC blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2007
- Wrote for The (Nashville) Tennessean
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Chris Low
Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
Edward Aschoff
Aschoff joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending four years covering the University of Florida for The Gainesville Sun. He grew up in Oxford, Miss., before attending UF, graduating with a B.S. in journalism.
SEC TEAM COVERAGE
RECRUITING NATION
Florida: GatorNation
Follow everything Florida at GatorNation: Florida Gators football, basketball, news, recruiting and more.
• GatorNation | Blog | RecruitingNation
RECRUITING NATION
Georgia: DawgNation
Follow everything Georgia at DawgNation: Georgia Bulldogs football, basketball, news, recruiting and more.
• DawgNation | Blog | RecruitingNation
You must be signed in to post a comment