Player Spotlight: Janoris Jenkins

Janoris Jenkins has had an interesting path thus far, but it seems as if he was made to play for the St. Louis Rams.

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Jenkins was a 4-star recruit coming out of high school and accepted a scholarship to play football at the University of Florida.  Jenkins started at cornerback on opening day as a true freshman, becoming just the second true freshman to do so in Gator history.

Jenkins played three tremendous years while with the Gators, but w kicked off the team for being charged with possession of marijuana in April 2011.

Jenkins subsequently transferred to the University of North Alabama where he finished out his senior year.

While Jenkins had clear-cut first round talent, it was the events following the troubled 23-year-old’s departure from Gainesville that are likely to drive him out of the first round, according to a variety of executives, personnel directors and scouts across the league scouts said.

“Wouldn’t touch him in the first round,” – NFC Executive

This analysis proved to be correct as Jenkins fell out of the first round and was taken in the second round as the 39th overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

In his rookie year in 2012, Jenkins got off to a very good start by picking off Matthew Stafford in week one. In week 13, Jenkins became the first Ram to return two interceptions for touchdowns in the same game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Jenkins finished the year with three touchdowns, which tied the NFL rookie record. Jenkins also returned a fumble for a touchdown, giving him four for the year to lead the NFL in defensive touchdowns.

In year number two, Jenkins had a very quite but solid season, recording 61 tackles, 14 pass deflections and one interception.

In 2014, Jenkins returned two more interceptions for touchdowns, giving him five in his first three years in the NFL. His longest touchdown came on a 99-yard interception return against the San Diego Chargers.

In reward for his good season, Jenkins was named as a pro bowl alternate for 2014.

Since being dismissed from the University of Florida, Jenkins has had no run-ins with police and has made a name for himself as one of the leagues best young cornerbacks.

Of his  seven career interceptions, Jenkins has returned five of them for touchdowns. So if you want to throw his way, make sure you can bring him down once he picks you off, because it’s a good shot he will take it the other way for six.

And for the NFL executives that passed on Jenkins, well you can chalk that up as a huge mistake.