In less than 12 hours, defensive end/outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins (Hamilton, Ga./Harris County) will take the next step in what has been a long and winding journey.
Jenkins, a Texas native whose father is a retired U.S. Army veteran, has spent time in California, South Carolina, Alaska, Louisiana, Mexico (for a month) and Washington, before moving to Georgia in middle school. Through the past three years, Jenkins has developed into one of the most feared pass-rushers in the nation, and has grown from a 6-foot-2, 210-pound freshman into a nearly 6-foot-4, 247-pound senior. It seems that just yesterday Jenkins emerged as a national prospect, but in recruiting three years can also seem like an eternity.
In June 2009, Jenkins arrived in Atlanta for the National Underclassmen Combine, and after testing extremely well, he dominated the 1-on-1 pass rushing drills. He was tested once, by one offensive lineman in attendance, fellow rising sophomore John Theus (Jacksonville, Fla./Bolles). It was one of the most impressive head-to-head battles this recruiting writer has witnessed, and the two would continue to test each other at Dawg Night in both 2010 and 2011 at Georgia.