CB Malcolm Jenkins (New Orleans Saints)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Per the ozone.........

Freshman Malcolm Jenkins not only played, but got the first start of his Buckeye career as the OSU defense opened the game in the nickel package.

"I expected for me to come out and be real nervous and be looking at the crowd all the time. Today I seemed to be real locked in on my assignments. After the first drive all the butterflies were gone. I think I executed pretty well," said Jenkins.

"They came out and they hit the play. After the first couple of series, everything started slowing down for me. I was able to grasp things quicker and react quicker."

"It's real fun. I'm enjoying myself out there being a part of the defense. It means a lot to me especially being a freshman especially."

[BearBuck27]

Malcolm looks like he's going to be a real good one. He was only one game off. He said earlier that he wanted to start by the Texas game. Good luck Malcolm and keep up the good work.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

From the Football Press Luncheon on 9/20/05....

REPORTER: Talk about the flexibility of Malcolm Jenkins.
TRESSEL: Malcolm Jenkins, we felt coming in, he was from an excellent program, three-time state champs in New Jersey, studied the game. He was a guy that was really into the game of football and you could just tell as he got here that he was maybe further advanced than the normal guy, and so what we've been able to do is play him in corner and move Tyler inside, nickel, plus play Tyler a little bit at the corner position and Malcolm has been on a bunch of special teams. And I think Malcolm is doing a good job. Now he's got to obviously take the next step as we go into the Big Ten, but I think he's done a nice job.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scout.com$

9/21/05

Article talks about Jenkins' first start for Ohio State. He ended the game with 1 pass break up and three tackles.

[Taosman]

Watch Iowa give him a lot of work this weekend! Watch for a few out and ups sent his way.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

According to the released depth chart this week, he is not starting against Iowa.

[bucknut11]

According to the released depth chart this week, he is not starting against Iowa.

...Unless we open in Nickel like we did against SDSU. Then he'd get another start.

[DaddyBigBucks]

Here's a young man who is worthy of Mike Doss' number.

Number 2

[barlow1802]

Could you post the story? Non-subscribers cant read it..thanks

[Dryden]

You must be a Dispatch.com subscriber to access this page

Can you please paste the article?

[bkochmc]

Here ya go... great article, BTW.
Link

OSU FOOTBALL
Determined freshman cornerback stepping up
Friday, September 30, 2005
Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--> <table class="phototableright" align="right" border="0"><!-- begin large ad code --> <tbody><tr><td> <table align="center"> <tbody><tr><td align="center"> </td></tr> <tr><td class="credit" width="200"> NEAL C . LAURON | DISPATCH </td></tr> <tr><td class="cutline" width="200">Malcolm Jenkins tries to get the crowd going during the second half against Iowa. </td></tr> </tbody></table> </td></tr> </tbody></table>
Willie Jenkins was a Korean War veteran, a man who had faced violence and death, surviving even as half of his unit was killed or wounded.
A man like that commands respect, and young Malcolm Jenkins listened intently whenever his grandfather talked.
"He used to tell me all the time, ‘Don’t let anybody outwork you; just be tough and never fear anybody,’ " said Malcolm, a freshman cornerback at Ohio State.
Willie died several years ago, but "That mentality as a young boy just grew on me, and now I self-motivate myself. I’m real determined to do things to get better."
Just four games into his first year, Jenkins has worked himself into the Buckeyes’ starting lineup. His emergence has been called a "pleasant surprise," but it’s no surprise to him or to those familiar with his drive and dedication.
Dan Higgins first saw Jenkins as a high-school freshman in Piscataway, N.J. Higgins, newly named as Piscataway’s football coach, was watching a track meet when Jenkins caught his eye.
"He was running the 400, and there was a head wind and it was raining, and he was pushing right through it," Higgins said. "I said, ‘Who’s that kid?’ I saw it from that first day: His toughness was incredible."
Higgins called Jenkins "a coach’s dream" — someone with a hunger to improve and to mentor those around him. With Jenkins starring at receiver and defensive back, Piscataway won three straight state titles.
In the summer of 2004, Jenkins and his mother came to central Ohio to visit his aunt, Tammy Hardwick, who recently had moved to Westerville.
Jenkins had wanted to attend a college camp, so he signed up for OSU’s.
To say he caught the Buckeyes coaches’ eyes is an understatement. Not only did he run a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, but he showed his mental makeup by repeatedly cutting in line in order to play against the camp’s best receivers.
"Some of (the other defensive backs) were hesitant to jump out on the receivers, so I would just jump in if anybody hesitated," Jenkins said. "And there was a point where I was going back-toback a couple times, and the coaches were watching me (and) weren’t telling me to stop.
"It was fun because I was getting challenged and I felt myself getting better every rep."
Jenkins soon had an offer, and he accepted, spurning Virginia Tech and Rutgers.
For whatever reason, he didn’t arrive in Columbus this summer with high expectations. With nine starters returning on defense and senior Tyler Everett moved from safety to fill an open corner spot, it seemed that little playing time would be available for the freshmen.
Early in camp, though, Jenkins stood out. He had several interceptions within the first few days, and a buzz began.
"He kind of came out of nowhere," safety Nate Salley said. "Nobody really looks at football in New Jersey too much, and he came in and surprised a lot of people."
Jenkins has played in all four games, starting against San Diego State when the Buckeyes opened with five defensive backs. He has nine tackles and a pass breakup.
His biggest play so far came Sept. 10 against Texas.
Quarterback Vince Young found Billy Pittman streaking down the middle for an apparent touchdown, but Jenkins and Everett ran him down from behind at the OSU 5-yard line after a 63-yard gain. The Longhorns eventually settled for a field goal.
"I couldn’t believe it," defensive lineman David Patterson said. "That was a great effort play, an even greater play when you’re a freshman. That just shows maturity. Some guys might have let that guy (go), but he was just determined not to let him get in there."
It’s the same attitude that led Jenkins to tell OSU coaches his goals when he arrived on campus: get better, become a starter and be one of the best defensive backs in the Big Ten.
All by the end of this season.
"A lot of people laughed at some of my goals," he said. "But I set my heart to it, and I’m real determined to get there. I still haven’t accomplished all of them, but I’m working."
kgordon@dispatch.com

[Pheasant]

Great article. Greenies for you.

[barlow1802]

Originally Posted by bkochmc

Here ya go... great article, BTW.

Thanks

[hoat]

Very nice article. it's nice to see young motivated kids talked about instead of the ones who are always in trouble.

[BB73]

Thanks for the post - good read on a future star.