Big John Picks Georgia

“Big John” Jenkins, a 2009 Maloney graduate, stood at a podium in the school’s cafeteria on Saturday afternoon in front of around 70 people who eagerly awaited his decision.

On the left, a Georgia baseball cap.  On the right, a Florida cap.  It may have been the first time the archrivals fought over a recruit from Meriden, Conn.

In one of the most surreal moments in the history of Meriden sports, Jenkins, the four-star junior college defensive tackle, ended his much-publicized recruitment by announcing on Saturday his intention to play for Georgia next fall.

“I’m a dog. Georgia is the school I will be attending,” Jenkins said after telling his “assistant” Tyrone Abrahams Jr. – the son of a former Spartans defensive line coach – that he no longer needed the Florida hat.

The 21-year-old Jenkins, who spent the past two seasons playing for renowned football powerhouse Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, said it was important to return home for the announcement.

While the travel home caused him to delay his announcement until three days after National Signing Day, it was neccessary.

“I won’t forget where I came from and I won’t forget my struggles,” said Jenkins, who played fullback on the Maloney team that lost to New Canaan in the 2006 Class L championship game.  

“For me to come back to my high school, it sends a message to the nation that you don’t have to stay in one pipeline for recruiting.  There are great players everywhere. And I wanted to deliver a message that we have good players in Meriden. We have good people in Meriden and in Connecticut in general.  All you have to do is just reach out.”

Plenty of schools reached out to the 6-foot-4, 340-pound Jenkins, who earned Honorable Mention on the 2010 National Junior College Athletic Association All-America team. 

He originally verbally committed to Oklahoma State in October, but reopened his recruitment in mid-January.

Since then, he has been pursued by nearly every major Division I program – including Florida, which made a strong push late.  Jenkins made his official visit to Gainesville last weekend, but nothing could sway him from Georgia.

Jenkins said two main factors led to him choosing the Bulldogs – his mother and Ray Drew (the five-star defensive end who chose Georgia over 50 other schools last week).

Mary Jenkins had never flown in her life prior to traveling with her son for his official visit to Athens on Jan. 21 and she didn’t want to drag the process out anymore.

“She said I’m going to support you no matter where you go, but I would like to come back,” Jenkins recalled. “We laughed about it a little. I felt like this is the place. I prayed to God and I felt like this was the place.”

“I had a good feeling about Georgia,” Mary Jenkins said. “That is what made me get on the plane.”

Ironically, it was a different trip that helped seal the deal for Jenkins.

“A few weeks ago I made a trip to Miami and I met this guy Ray Drew,” Jenkins said. “I never knew who this guy was, but he came up to me and asked how I felt about Georgia. I told him I like Georgia, but I needed to finish out the process.”

That’s when Drew launched into his sales pitch about “The Dream Team,” he wanted to form.  The team would consist of Drew, Jenkins, and other top flight recruits Isaiah Crowell, Antonio Richardson and Jeff Pagan.

And when Drew committed, he called on Jenkins and the others to join him. Jenkins was sold.

“I just want to say, ‘Drew, I heard your call,” he said. 

Jenkins' signing is a huge boon for the Bulldogs, who are now projected to have the No. 4 recruiting class in the country with his addition, according to scout.com.  The website was at the press conference, running a live feed to the football-crazed masses in Georgia.

Jenkins’ former coach Bob Zito, who still coaches football at Maloney, was also on hand.

Zito acknowledged what an accomplishment it is for Jenkins to be headed to the SEC – what many people consider the premier football conference in the nation.

“You’re talking about the best football in the country – in my opinion - and for him to be highly recruited by (those school) says a lot about his ability.  I’m very proud of him.”

Though Jenkins seems destined for great things, his journey wasn’t without obstacles.  Academic problems haunted him early in his high school career. Zito said he never fully grasped the importance of an education until his senior season.

Jenkins, who will enroll at Georgia this June after completing his Associates Degree in General Studies in Mississippi, realizes that now and has a message to kids who may be struggling academically.

“If anyone feels like giving up, I feel like they are giving up on themselves,” Jenkins said.  “Because, to be honest with you, I never thought I would be in this situation. 

“Coming out of high school, I didn’t even plan on going to college. I never gave up. I had a good supporting cast.  I just thought, ‘I have to take this detour, but I’m going to keep fighting.”

Jenkins' new attitude towards academics is apparent. He plans on being at Georgia for the final two years of his eligibility, despite the temptation to leave school early for the NFL.

“I told the coaches I want to graduate,” he said. “The league (the NFL) will be there.”