Janoris Jenkins - Looking Out For No. 1
Sunday, November 22, 2009 | Football
By Stephen Kerkhof, UF Communications
As soon as Janoris Jenkins committed to the University of Florida, he wanted to arrive on campus as quickly as possible. While attending Pahokee High School, he was on a track that allowed him to graduate early and begin his college career in the spring of 2008.
Just moving to Gainesville early was not enough for the heralded defensive back, however, Jenkins wanted to play and make an impact on the football team from day one. Even before he left Pahokee, he began working out with his high school teammates after the conclusion of their season.
“We would work out evenings and on the weekends and practice one-on-one route running and doing everything we could to get our games to the next level,” Jenkins said. “We knew where we wanted our skill levels to be and that was how we could get them there.”
The extra work that he put in paid dividends, as it helped make the transition to SEC football pretty seamless for Jenkins. He started 12 games as a true freshman - something only teammate Joe Haden had done in Gator football history.
He attributes much of his early success to the confidence with which he plays.
“It's all about swagger for a cornerback,” Jenkins said. “It doesn't matter how good you are, there will be plays when you get beat. What I try to focus on is bouncing back right after plays like that. Getting down on yourself after a bad play can just lead to more bad plays.”
The swagger has become a trademark of this season's Gator secondary, and has been dubbed, “Corner Swag” by Jenkins and fellow cornerback Haden.
Jenkins also credits his dedication to preparation as a factor in his strong play early in his career.
“It's all about how you prepare in the SEC,” he acknowledged. “Talent alone doesn't get you anywhere, you have to put the work in during the week of practice.”
Florida defensive backs' coach Vance Bedford praised Jenkins for his readiness to play upon his arrival in Gainesville.
“Janoris is a very special talent,” said the second-year Gator assistant. “He was very mature for his age a year ago. He understands the game and has great awareness. Not everybody has the type of awareness he has. That was one reason he was able to come in and play.”
One of the things that made Jenkins stand out right away when he got to Florida is the speed and intensity with which he plays the game, earning him one of his many nicknames.
“My teammates started calling me 'Jackrabbit' because I played really quick and it always looked like I was hopping around on the football field like a jackrabbit,” he said of the moniker.
However, the reason for the nickname is two-fold.
“The guys also found out that when I was growing up we used to go out into the fields and chase jackrabbits to get faster, so I guess it's a good fit for me.”
Jenkins has also displayed his ability to tackle in the open field. Having corners that can record solo tackles helps the defense in the run game, but also gives coaches the luxury of playing single coverage with the confidence that even if a catch is made the receiver won't get too far before being dragged down.
“My coaches work on tackling a lot,” Jenkins offered. “We work on open field tackling in practice every week. I think the thing that makes me able to be such a good tackler is that I'm not afraid to mess up. I go hard into a tackle and I don't worry about missing, if you play afraid to mess up, you're more likely to miss the play.”
With the high level of play that coaches and fans have come to expect from No. 1, his role on the team has become well-defined. Although he does not get thrown on very often these days, he has still managed a pair of interceptions thus far in the 2009 campaign.
“I'm a playmaker.” Jenkins said. “I try to come up with the big play any time the team needs one.”
Unlike many other big-name athletes, Jenkins does not forget to neglect his off-field roles either. After his first year at the University of Florida, he was named not only to the SEC All-Freshman Team as a player but also earned a berth on the league's Academic Honor Roll.
When asked about this accomplishment, Jenkins said, “It means a lot to me. I'm very proud of that because UF is known for having such good academics and I worked hard as soon as I got here and was able to make the Academic All-SEC team, I'm very proud of that.”
He also realizes that being a teammate extends beyond the gridiron.
“I think most of the team looks to me as a leader, even though I'm one of the younger guys,” he added. “Off the field, I always try to be dependable and there for any of my teammates if they need me. I try really hard to be a great teammate.”
Whether on the field or in the classroom, the Pahokee native has certainly made the most of his short time in the Orange and Blue. In only his second year of eligibility, Gator fans should expect to see plenty more great things coming from Florida's jackrabbit in the future.
-UF-
