[Buckskin86]

Tuesday February 5, 2008
Josh Jenkins remains quiet on college plans
by Derek Taylor
Daily Mail sportswriter

The last time a collegiate recruit got this much attention in West Virginia, Sport Magazine was following Brett Nelson around, waiting for the decision on where he would play his collegiate basketball.

Similar to before the St. Albans graduate's 1998 announcement that he would play for Billy Donovan at the University of Florida, no one knows what to expect when Parkersburg High offensive lineman Josh Jenkins reveals his collegiate plans on national signing day.

A signing ceremony is scheduled for the Big Red field house for 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

Jenkins has narrowed his list of potential suitors to two or three schools, depending on which recruiting source is making the report. West Virginia, Ohio State and Florida State all appear to be in the mix. Web sites such as BuckeyeSports.com have as recently as this week reported that Florida State has been dropped from the list. However, Florida State Web sites as well as The Tallahassee Democrat report otherwise.

An FSU recruiting report in Monday's edition of The Democrat said that Jenkins was one of two out-of-state recruits Coach Bobby Bowden's regime was "chasing to the end."

As that inevitable end approaches, Jenkins has become quieter about his leanings even than in recent months. The guard stopped taking phone calls to his cell phone regarding the matter before the Big Reds won their second straight Class AAA championship on Dec. 1.

"He's playing it closer to the vest than ever before," said Parkersburg assistant Coach Mark McCullough on Monday. "The last couple of weeks have been pretty hard on him. He'll be glad when it's all over."

Charleston Daily Mail