Prospect Profile: DT/NT John Jenkins - Georgia

Georgia Profile:

Name:  John Jenkins
Height:  359 lbs.
Weight:  6' - 4"
Class:  Senior
Hometown:  Meriden, CT
Date of Birth:  7/11/89 (23 years old)
Junior College:  Gulf Coast CC (Mississippi)
High School:  Francis T. Maloney HS


Season Summaries:

2012 Sr. Year:  Started all 13 games (including SEC Championship game vs. Alabama) at Nose Tackle.  2nd Team All-SEC (Coaches).  Had 50 total tackles including 1.0 sacks and 2.0 TFLs.  Consistently double teamed, mammoth Jenkins help Ogletree, Jarvis Jones, Shawn Williams and Cornelius Washington to extremely strong seasons.

2011 Jr. Year:  Played in 14 games coming in as a transfer from Gulf Coast CC in Mississippi.  Logged 28 total tackles with 6.0 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, 10.0 QB Pressures and an INT in Georgia's Bowl game vs. Michigan State.  Recipient of the Jeff & Stacey Rothenberger Family Football Scholarship.

2009 & 2010 Fr./So. Years (Gulf Coast CC):  Four-star recruit coming out of GCCC, #11 Overall JC player, and #7 DT in the country.  Recorded 41 total tackles and two sacks as a sophomore.

2012 Senior Year Highlights (#6 playing Nose, typically):



Positives (+):
+ Huge body, has the appropriate size for a Nose Tackle in the NFL
+ Good pocket pusher, very active and disruptive inside, especially early in a game
+ Shows good motor and effort in pursuit for a big man
+ Quick in short spaces, can get violent with the ball carrier in sight
+ Has a decent swim move that he needs to use more often
+ Does a good job in screen recognition
+ Consistently demands double teams
+ Does not quit, will fight through any block, even double teams, keeps working to the ball carrier

Negatives (-):
- Not an every down DT in the NFL
- Like all big men, the stamina wanes in the 2nd half, needs to be platooned
- Needs to be more active in using his hands to disengage blocks, he'll lean on a blocker with his massive frame, but when he gets anchored the blockers he faces typically can get their hands inside to hold him in place
- Susceptible to chop blocks
- Questions about his study habits, missed his last Bowl game vs. Nebraska due to academic ineligibility, spent two years in Junior College before qualifying for BCS ball at UGA

NFL Outlook:
Any team looking for a strong Nose Tackle, a true Nose Tackle, this is the guy.  He's not as versatile or explosive as Star Lotulelei or Sheldon Richardson, but he is essentially a different player.  His ability to absorb extra blockers will make him a highly sought after prospect to teams in a 3-4.  With the proper LB corps behind him, and the motor he possesses, he can become a strong cog for defenses looking to shore up their inside defensive presence.

Outlook as a Raider:
An interesting option for Oakland.  While Jenkins' value is not worthy of a No. 3 Overall pick, he is certainly an option if the Raiders engineer a tradedown into the mid to late 1st Round.  Oakland recently acquired former Marshall Nose Tackle Johnny Jones to a Futures Reserve this off-season, so it's possible they're holding on to the notion of having the 3-4 in the playbook.  They clearly are lacking the depth at LB, specifically Inside Linebacker, to fully convert to a 3-4 look as their primary defense, but with Tommy Kelly, Richard Seymour and possibly Desmond Bryant all moving on (though it is likely Bryant will get paid and remain a Raider)...the 3-4 would lend itself well to Oakland who only need some help at Nose and LB to make it work.  DT's like Bryant, Bilukidi and Lamarr Houston are prototypical 3-4 DEs...Shaughnessy, Andre Carter and Jack Crawford are more in the 4-3 DE range...though Crawford could convert to 3-4 OLB with his ability in space.  While this option isn't likely for the Raiders, it certainly remains a possibility...and the Raider coaching staff got a very good look at Jenkins at the Senior Bowl.