Janoris Jenkins: Difference between revisions

Janoris Jenkins

Jenkins with the Giants in 2017
No. 20 – New York Giants
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1988-10-29) October 29, 1988 Pahokee, Florida
Height:	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:	190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:	Pahokee (FL)
College:	North Alabama
NFL draft:	2012: 2nd round, 39th pick
Career history
St. Louis Rams (2012–2015) New York Giants (2016–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl (2016) Second-team All-Pro (2016) PFWA All-Rookie Team (2012) BCS national champion (2008) SEC champion (2008) First-team All-SEC (2010)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 11, 2017
Tackles: 337 Sacks: 2.0 Forced fumbles: 5 Pass deflections: 74 Interceptions: 15 Touchdowns: 8 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Janoris Jermain Jenkins (born October 29, 1988), nicknamed "Jackrabbit", is an American football cornerback for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of North Alabama and University of Florida and was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Early life

Jenkins attended Pahokee High School, and he played for the Pahokee Blue Devils football team and was teammates with Richard Ash and Merrill Noel. In his senior year, Pahokee went 14–0, beating Newberry 53–14 at the Florida Citrus Bowl for the 2008 FHSAA Class 2B State championship. Jenkins was recognized as a first-team Class 2B All-State selection and a Parade magazine All-American.

Rated a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Jenkins was listed as the sixth-best cornerback prospect in the nation, in a cornerback crop headed by Patrick Peterson.

College career

Jenkins accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida, where he played for coach Urban Meyer's Florida Gators football team from 2008 to 2010. He became just the second true freshman in school history to start at cornerback in the season opener. He was named to College Football News and Sporting News′ Freshman All-American teams. Despite his strong on-the-field performance for the Gators over three seasons, Jenkins was kicked off the team after he was charged with possession of marijuana in April 2011.

Jenkins subsequently transferred and attended the University of North Alabama for his senior year, after signing an athletic grant-in-aid to play for the North Alabama Lions football team under head coach Terry Bowden.

Professional career

Coming out of North Alabama, Jenkins was projected to be a second round pick by the majority of NFL draft experts an scouts. Prior to the combine, NFL analyst Mike Mayock ranked Jenkins as the second best cornerback in the 2012 NFL Draft. He received an invitation to the NFL Combine and completed nearly all the combine drills, choosing to only forgo to bench press due to a shoulder injury. On March 9, 2012, he participated at North Alabama's pro day and opted to only perform positional drills for team representatives and scouts. Jenkins was ranked as the third best cornerback in the draft by NFL analyst Mike Mayock and was ranked as the fourth best cornerback by NFLDraftScout.com He received positive reviews for his coverage skills, athletic ability, explosiveness, and ability to read and react to plays. Scouts cited his past personal off the field issues, small stature, and possible ability to adapt to the physicality of the pro game as concerns and liabilities.

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	193 lb (88 kg)	32 in (0.81 m)	8.25 in (0.21 m)	4.46 s	1.55 s	2.58 s	4.13 s	6.95 s	33.5 in (0.85 m)	10 ft 1 in (3.07 m)
All values from NFL Combine

St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams selected Jenkins in the second round (39th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.

2012

On July 24, 2012, the St. Louis Rams signed Jenkins to a four-year, $4.99 million contract, that included $2.93 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $2.06 million.

Jenkins competed with fellow rookie Trumaine Johnson, veteran Cortland Finnegan, and Bradley Fletcher for the St. Louis Ram's starting cornerback job throughout training camp. Head coach Jeff Fisher named Jenkins the Ram's starting cornerback for the start of the regular season.

He earned his first career start in his professional regular season debut during the St. Louis Ram's season-opening 23-27 loss to the Detroit Lions and finished with six combined tackles, a pass deflection, and had his first career interception after picking off Matt Stafford's pass, returning it for 34-yards. In Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals, he collected two solo tackles and returned two interceptions for touchdowns after picking off fellow rookie Ryan Lindley. He became the first Rams player to ever return two interceptions for touchdowns in a single regular season game and helped the Rams defeat the Cardinals 31-17. On December 16, 2012, Jenkins recorded a season-high eight solo tackles during a 22-36 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Jenkins finished his rookie season with a total of 73 combined tackles (64 solo), 14 pass deflections, four interceptions, and four touchdowns in 15 games and 14 starts. Jenkins also appeared as the Ram's punt returner, finishing the season with nine returns for 46-yards and three fumbles. His four defensive touchdowns (3 INTs, 1 fumble recovery) led the NFL that season. Jenkins won the team's Carroll Rosenbloom Memorial Award for his record-setting season. Jenkins also tied an NFL rookie record with three interceptions returned for touchdowns, and tied Chicago Bears' cornerback Charles Tillman for the league lead.

2013

He returned as the St. Louis Ram's starting cornerback alongside Cortland Finnegan in 2013. During the St. Louis Ram's season-opening 27–24 victory over the Arizona Cardinals Jenkins collected four solo tackles and a season-high three pass deflections. On October 13, he made three combined tackles and had the first sack of his career on Houston Texan's quarterback T. J. Yates. The following play, Jenkins intercepted Yates for his only pick of the season, helping the Rams defeat the Texans 38–13. In Week 15, he made a season-high six solo tackles during a 27–16 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Jenkins finished the 2013 season with 61 combined tackles (55 solo), 14 pass deflections, one sack, and one interception in 16 games and 16 starts.

2014

He resumed his starting cornerback position, teaming up with E. J. Gaines to start the 2014 season. On September 21, he made five solo tackles and intercepted Dallas Cowboy's quarterback Tony Romo, returning it for a 25-yard touchdown as the Rams loss to the Cowboys 31–34. In Week 7, Jenkins had a season-high nine combined tackles, as the Rams defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28–26. He missed Weeks 8 and 9 due to a knee injury. On November 23, Jenkins recorded four combined tackles, a pass deflection, a forced fumble, and intercepted a Philip River's pass for a 99-yard touchdown. The Rams went on to lose to the San Diego Charger's 24–27. He finished the 2014 season with 59 combibed tackles (55 solo), five pass deflections, a forced fumble, two interceptions, and two touchdowns in 14 games and 13 starts. Jenkins, along with teammate Tavon Austin, was named a Pro Bowl Alternate.

2015

On September 27, 2015, Jenkins made a season-high nine combined tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted Pittsburgh Steeler's quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during a 6-12 loss. The following game, he accumulated five solo tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted as pass off of Arizona Cardinal's quarterback Carson Palmer during a 24-22 victory. In Week 12, Jenkins managed three solo tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted Andy Dalton, as the Rams loss to the Cincinnati Bengals 7-31. He finished his final season with the St. Louis Rams with. total of 64 combined tackles (56 solo), 16 pass deflections, and three interceptiobs in 15 games and 15 starts. Pro Football Focus ranked Jenkins as the 25th best cornerback in the NFL in 2015 with an overall grade of 80.2. At one point late in the season, Jenkins was ranked as high as the 11th best cornerback in the NFL.

New York Giants

On March 9, 2016, Jenkins signed a five-year, $62.5 million contract with the New York Giants. The contract includes $28.80 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $10.00 million.

2016

He was the Giant's de facto starting cornerback to begin the regular season, joining a highly touted defensive back field featuring the likes of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Eli Apple, and Landon Collins.

In his debut with the New York Giants, he earned three combined tackles and held Dallas Cowboy's wide receiver, Dez Bryant to only one catch for 8-yards in the Giant's season-opening 20–19 victory. The following week, he recorded a season-high eight combined tackles and two pass deflections against the New Orleans Saints, while also returning a blocked field goal for a Giant's touchdown. On October 9, 2016, Jenkins intercepted Green Bay Packer's quarterback Aaron Rodgers twice, made two tackles and three pass deflections. Jenkins became the first person to intercept Rodgers twice in just one game at Lambeau Field. On November 14, 2016, Jenkins made six tackles and a pass deflection while holding A. J. Green, the NFL's leading receiver, to four catches for 23-yards. He finished the season with 49 combibed tackles (44 solo), a career-high 18 pass deflections, one sack, and three interceptions in 15 games and 15 starts. The New York Giants finished the season with an 11-5 record, earning a playoff berth. On January 8, 2017, he played in his first career playoff game, making only one tackle during the Giant's 13-38 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Jenkins was selected to be a starter in the 2017 Pro Bowl for the first time in his career as well as receiving Second-team All-Pro Honors. He was also ranked 54th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017. He was the first former North Alabama Lions player to be selected to the Pro Bowl since Harlon Hill in 1956.

2017

On October 15, 2017, Jenkins made five combined tackles and intercepted Denver Bronco's quarterback Trevor Siemian, returning it for a 43-yard touchdown. The New York Giants defeated the Broncos 23–10. On October 31, Jenkins was suspended indefinitely by the Giants for violating team rules. He was reinstated on November 7, 2017 after missing just one game.

Career NFL statistics

Career statistics			Tackles			Sacks	Interceptions			Other
Season	Team	Games	Solo	Ast	Total	Sack	Int	Yds	IntTD	FFum	FRec	PD	Safety
2012	STL	15	64	9	73	0.0	4	150	3	0	0	14	0
2013	STL	16	55	6	61	1.0	1	5	0	0	0	14	0
2014	STL	14	55	4	59	0.0	2	124	2	2	0	5	0
2015	STL	15	56	8	64	0.0	3	0	0	1	0	16	0
2016	NYG	15	36	2	38	0.0	3	26	0	1	0	18	0
Career		70	266	29	295	1.0	18	305	5	4	0	61	0

Personal life

On June 1, 2009, Jenkins was arrested near a bar by Gainesville Police for fighting and resisting arrest after punching a man in the head around 2:00 a.m. Police were forced to use a taser on Jenkins after fighting escalated. When asked why the fight started, Jenkins told police it was because he thought someone was going to steal the gold chain around his neck.

On April 23, 2011, Jenkins was cited by a Gainesville police officer and charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession. He was cited for the same violation in January 2011, and paid a $316 fine. He was arrested in May 2009 during a downtown Gainesville fight that resulted in probation and community service. On April 26, 2011, he was dismissed by the Florida Gators football team, due to his second drug related arrest in 3 months.

Jenkins is cousins with Chicago Bears linebacker, Pernell McPhee.

External links

• Janoris Jenkins on Twitter
• New York Giants bio
• "Florida Gators profile". Archived from the original on December 22, 2010.