ATHLETIC ABILITY / BACKPEDAL / HIPS - SECTION GRADE: 9.0
Jenkins is an elite athlete for a cornerback and enabled him to be a dominating
cornerback despite just adequate height. Excellent foot quickness, agil- ity and
flexibility shows up in a very quick and compact back-pedal. He is able to transition
out of pedal very quickly and has an explosive closing burst on passes. He has the loose
hips to turn and run without losing a step and the top end playing speed to stay on receiver’s
hip deep down the field.
M/M COVERAGE - OFF & TIGHT SECTION - GRADE: 8.5
Jenkins does an excellent job of punching receiver with hard jam to slow receiver’s release off the
LOS. He shows no hesitation keeping hands on receiver throughout route - Plays physical and can
get receiver off stem surpris- ing well to throw off timing of QB/WR. He can flip hips to turn
and run without losing a step and can stay on receiver’s hip out of breaks in tight coverage. He
has an excellent backpedal in “Off” coverage to keep receiver from clos- ing cushion, can “Click &
Close” out of pedal to close explosively on passes and has the ball skills to break up passes
consistently. The one area he struggled in M/M coverage in the games evaluated was when he tried
to press Alshon Jeffery and play physical with him. Jeffery was able to push Jenkins around to
create a little big of space, was easily able to catch high passes over Jenkins and then shrugged
off Jenkins tackle attempt to gain yards af- ter contact. His aggressiveness leads to him jumping
and biting on pump fakes, which allows receiver to get separation. He does have the explosive
burst and top end speed to recover and get back into good coverage position.
ZONE COVERAGE - SECTION GRADE: 8.5
Jenkins is instinctive in “Zone” coverage - Good feel for spacing and awareness for where
receivers are. He slides and moves well with- in area and can plant, drive and close on
passes in a heartbeat. He has the explosive closing burst that few cornerbacks
possess.
RUN / PASS RECOGNITION / INSTINCTS / SMARTS - SECTION GRADE: 8.5
Jenkins has excellent instincts which help him to consistently sniff out plays. He is outstanding
reading the quick bubble screen type pass to receiver behind the LOS, flies up the field and when
he stays under control he can make tackle right after the ball is caught. In tight M/M coverage he
has excellent awareness and feel which helps him to anticipate route while covering receiver.
Despite instincts, his aggressiveness leads to him jumping/biting on pump fakes, which he has to
avoid at the next level. While there is no doubt that Jenkins is football smart, the numerous bad
decisions made off the field raise real questions about his smarts in everyday life.
CLOSING / DEEP SPEED - SECTION GRADE: 8.5
Jenkins has rare playing speed to stay with any receiver on deep route and shows ball skills to go
up and make a play to break up pass. He has an explosive closing burst on the receiver to make play
on ball to break up pass.
BALL SKILLS / HANDS TO INTERCEPT & MAKE PLAY ON BALL - SECTION GRADE: 8.5
Jenkins has excellent ball skills to make play on ball to breakup and intercept
passes. He is very ag- gressive trying to break up passes - Does not show
hesitation to go through or over receiver to try and break up pass. He made it look
easy twisting body to adjust and make excellent plays on ball. .
RUN SUPPORT / TACKLING / WILLINGNESS TO HIT - SECTION GRADE: 6.5
Jenkins consistently comes up the field quickly on passes and runs in front of him.
He does not how- ever break down and tackle consistently and too often becomes a
reach and grab tackler. He has never been a violent, hard hitter, but when he stays under
control he can be a solid, wrap-up tackler.
-- Russ Lande
