The Back Alley Archives

Ask any Florida Gator fan about the weakness of their team and they would all shout secondary help. That was nevermore evident in the Capital One Bowl against Michigan where the Gators struggled to contain an explosive Michigan passing attack. The good news for Florida fans is that probably won't be a concern much longer with talented defensive backs Will Hill, Dee Finley and Pahokee DB Janoris Jenkins on the way. But there have been concerns that Jenkins might be looking around. He addressed those rumors following the recent Under-Armour All-American game.

Pahokee DB Janoris Jenkins has addressed the rumors that he might be looking around several times, but despite the claims that he is solid in his commitment to the University of Florida, the rumors have stayed constant. On Saturday afternoon following another big performance, Jenkins set the record straight and judging from his comments about the Gators, the rumors should stop immediately.

"I'm a Florida Gator and that's it," said Jenkins. "I love everything about the program and I have no interest in any other school. Florida has a big need for top cornerbacks and when I visited there a while back I knew in my heart that I wanted to be a Gator more than anything after meeting with the players and coaches."

Jenkins then talked further about the rumors he might take more visits down the road just before signing day, but the 5-foot-11, 182 pound senior put a quick halt to anyone thinking he will be suiting up with any other team except the orange of blue. He even dropped a small surprise that he will be arriving in Gainesville early.

"I'm going back to Pahokee to get everything packed up and then I will arrive at Florida in a few days," said Jenkins. "I don't have any other visits except for the trip to Gainesville which will be my final one."

At the start of the recruiting process, Jenkins wasn't sure where he would attend college, but after getting some early attention from Florida, he decided to check out the Gators to see what all the excitement was about. He was blown away with the trip to Gainesville, and the rest was history from there.

"I loved what I saw with the program as far as academics, where the team was headed and the immediate need Florida had for some top corners to help out the defense," Jenkins replied. "What really clinched it for me was when I walked into the room while stepping out for a minute and saw my Mom just smiling and laughing with Urban Meyer right then and there I knew that my heart and my family's heart would always be with Florida."

The decision wasn't a tough one for the four-star shutdown corner who this season finished with over 60 tackles and four interceptions, en route to leading the Pahokee Blue Devils to back to back championships.

Jenkins mentions that Florida head coach Urban Meyer had a huge hand in his decision.

"Coach Meyer talked about how they liked my physical play and how their team was really missing some shutdown corners that could really be the missing link to their team. He was honest about what their team needed and I respected that. I feel I have a very good shot at making a very early impact and I plan on bringing a little bit of my Muck style brand of football over to Gainesville the next four years so we can get back to winning championships again at Florida."

Before heading to Florida, Jenkins finished off his high school career officially in the inaugural Under-Armor All-American game which was televised nationally by ESPN. Leading up to the game, the Pahokee star was consistently singled out as one of the more impressive cornerbacks in practice. That honor was huge when you consider this game matched up some of the best talent, not just from Florida but in the entire nation. Jenkins had solid effort in the game, leading the Red team with four tackles and two pass break ups.

"It's special and I want to be challenged anytime I take the field. Put me against the best wide receiver in the nation, I don't care who it is that's my mentality," explained Jenkins. "This weekend was incredible because of the talent you have all on one field. It wasn't so much the speed of the players because we see that all the time at Pahokee, but the hitting was absolutely unreal out there."

Jenkins won't the only top prospect from the secondary heading to Gainesville that's because the Florida Gators also have verbal commitments from five-star safety Will Hill, and four-star safety Dee Finley. Jenkins got a chance to get all the communications down in practice all week with his future teammates. "I talked with Will a good deal and at first it was difficult in getting the timing and stuff down but we really turned it on near the end of the week. We all feel that we can bring a big time attacking style of defense to Florida that will just strengthen the team. I mean when you look at the talent we are bringing in for the secondary it's pretty special."

Even with a busy week, Jenkins got in some recruiting for his future school and just might have a career as a recruiting coordinator in the future as his efforts made an apparent impression on star DT Omar Hunter who it appears is now seriously considering joining Jenkins at Florida. Hunter a talented four-star prospect from Buford, Georgia who decommitted from Notre Dame earlier this week.

"I did as much as I could out there talking up Florida. Omar and I spoke a lot. I got his number and we texted each other all weekend. I'm going to be calling him a lot but I feel he will be at Florida when everything is said and done. He's a tremendous player on the defensive line and he showed that Saturday afternoon. I'm not going to tell prospects where they need to go, but I'm going to just go into detail about I feel Florida is the best school to attend."

I'm jacked about this kid just from reading this. Especially the part about how him and Hill already started working together on their timing and that he's recruiting Hunter.

what a huge boost for the secondary it would be. Haden has really come along this year. if Jenkins lives up to his billing it will be nice having a little more security on the edges then let Hill and Wright provide help over the top and head hunt on the medium to longer range plays.

He is one of the top two or three cover-corners in the country. Don't let him only being a four star fool you. He has shut down some of the best WR's in the country.

that's what i'm saying. i hope he lives up to all that in a gator uniform. that will help our safeties and help our d-line.

i love them boys from the muck. best goddamned football players in the country.

what a huge boost for the secondary it would be. Haden has really come along this year. if Jenkins lives up to his billing it will be nice having a little more security on the edges then let Hill and Wright provide help over the top and head hunt on the medium to longer range plays.

what about finley?

i'd like to start a 3-3-5 or a 4-2-5 defense with jenkins/haden on the corner, wright/finley/hill as roamers and markihe and/or wondy spelling and/or coming in on the dimes.

my only fear with a 3-3-5 or a 4-2-5 is that we get "small" on the field and could get exploited a little with a power run game.

my only fear with a 3-3-5 or a 4-2-5 is that we get "small" on the field and could get exploited a little with a power run game.

it's hard to come back from a 14 point deficit playing a 'power running' game against us. [img]{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

LOL, true.

if we can get our d-line shored up this year it will take a lot of pressure off of the secondary. it's a lot easier to cover someone for 3 to 4 seconds versus all day like they were trying to do against UM. we need to generate pressure up front.