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The Case For Janoris Jenkins
Janoris Jenkins | 5'10" | 193 | North Alabama
N. Alabama Stats (1 year) 2 INTs, 53 tackles
Florida Stats (3 Years) 8 INTs, 121 tackles
First want to say that if Morris Claiborne falls to our #9 pick we'd be stupid not to select him. He might not be as good a cover corner but he is right up there with Janoris. That coupled along with Jenkins's past makes Mo a safer pick. But I just want to make the case for Janoris Jenkins, whether that be at #9 or if we trade down.
Janoris Jenkins's talent should never really come into question. He has always been highly touted as he was one of the top recruits coming out of high school. As a true freshman, Janoris started from day 1 at CB. He was just the second true freshman to do that at the University of Florida. While in Gainesville he was a part of some great defenses. He even shared the field with Joe Haden. Anybody who watched Gator games would know that that was one of the best CB tandem in all of college football. But if you had to grade them separately, Janoris always seemed a couple notches above. Haden was the better athlete and had great ball skills. But Jenkins was the better cover corner and was able to limit the throws to his side of the field. The Browns now have their CB for the future in Haden and we could do the same with Jenkins.
I know many are wary of Jenkins's past and rightfully so. He has been caught multiple times for marijuana and was kicked off UF's football team heading into his senior season. Personally, I think this was one of the best things that could have happened to Janoris. It gave Janoris a new perspective on his situation, "It humbled me a lot seeing how I went from Florida to a Division II football school in one season. It really humbled me as a kid. It taught me a lot. The environment was totally different, from 95,000 in "The Swamp" to 3,500 at UNA. Big difference." This humbling experience matured him and allowed him to see how his decision making can affect him on the football field. Going from the SEC to division II, Jenkins realized the spotlight wasn't nearly as big. Jenkins never failed a drug test at UNA according to Bowden and has kept his nose clean off the football field.
Why It Makes Sense for the Panthers?
I think most could argue that CB is the one position that needs to be upgraded the most. If not the top need, it's 1b. Besides Gamble, our CBs are hardly reliable. Adding a CB that can actually cover to go alongside Gamble will ease our safeties. I feel like playing safety on a team that can't defend the pass or the run has to be a tough task. Not knowing whether to shade a certain side of the field to defend the pass or coming up in the box to stop the run seemed like a constant dilemma for our safeties. Jenkins would be the first step in making this a more complete defense.
I think many would agree that this years draft class is deep in the CB department but that doesn't mean there isn't a drop off in terms of talent.
Personal Scouting Report
First, I will begin with the negatives for Jenkins. I'll start with the obvious character concern. As many know, Jenkins played at UNA this year because he was no longer a part of the UF football team after multiple violations. Many have cited this reason alone for wanting nothing to do with him. As far as on the field weaknesses, there is really only one glaring concern and that is his size. I think his size, or lack thereof, is more of a concern in run support than in the pass game.
If you can get past his character concerns, it's easy to see that Jenkins is a stud CB. Addressing his history of bad decision making, I truly think that his time at Division II matured him. If he can keep his nose clean he will be a great CB. He does lack size but that didn't seem like a problem for him when defending the top receivers in the SEC. He has good leaping ability. He is very agile and has fluid hips that allows him to change direction even while reacting to the wideout. And even on the rare occasion that there is a sizable separation, Jenkins is able to cover ground with his speed. He is the best cover corner in this years draft because of his ability to shut down and truly limit one side of the field. Concerning run support, Janoris has great instincts. He is very aggressive and is able to stop the back before he can make his move. But because of his size he is not always able to make the tackle. But the fact that he can get there with great speed, he can at least slow things down so the linebackers can clean up the mess.
Most have seen his work at UF but here are Highlights from UNA
I understand the people that want to stay away from him because of his past. But what I can't understand are the people that are able to overlook the character concerns but are suggesting CBs (not named Claiborne) over Janoris. As far as just talent and production, he is in the debate for the #1 CB in the draft.
I think the positives outweigh the negatives and truly feel he has matured from his time at UNA. He is saying all the right things and has taken ownership of his mistakes in his interviews. This is much better than placing the blame somewhere else or trying to find excuses. Admitting your mistakes is the first step in the process of changing as a person. And that is what I see from for Janoris Jenkins.
111 Comments
Voice of Reason in a sea of stupidity.
So we are allowed to "cherry pick" with Cam but not Janoris.
I'll never make a case this strong if I haven't seen a kid play. And I am not talking about youtube videos, rarely judge players off that.
Not many have seen that video that's really why I posted it. Some of his other videos from his time at UF have been on this forum before. I have seen every game of his at UF and was just relaying what I saw.
No one Cherry picked Cam. His failures were out in the open and were not that serious(excepting stolen goods). Still your trying to compare a guy that tried weed to a pot head and you sound stupid doing it. Also Im sure Matt Jones was real sorry and had learned his lesson too.
No one cherry picked with Cam. It was all out in the open... Also Im sure
Maybe...maybe not.
He did not have to sit out a year. He is still looked at as a first round draft pick. Not sure what humbling experience you are referring to.
If you have consistently smoked marijuana in your life for extended amounts of time, you would probably realize that the substance itself is not what is addictive, but usually those who smoke tend to form a habit of needing an oral fixation. Classifying a teenager as an "addict" for smoking marijuana in his spare time is a bit absurd. Also, the drug test for the NCAA are random. Nearly every friend of mine here at college complain about random screenings every season and all season long.
I'm not trying to turn this into a marijuana debate, I just think you would be surprised at how many athletes smoked the substance in their collegiate careers and in the off-season and still go on to be stud professional athletes.
Read this interview: Draft Countdown Interview
Not sure what point you're trying to make here. I don't follow.
Don't really want to get into the debate of how bad marijuana is for you or comparing the the offenses of Cam and Janoris.
But I will say no one is ignoring Jenkins's past. It's has been noted plenty of times. It's all out in the open as you say. What I have been trying to say is that I believe that Janoris has the ability to change and he is taking the right steps in doing so. None of us have sat done with the kid to judge him but from the outside looking in he seems to be owning up to his mistakes. That to me is a great sign.
When you are considered tbe best talent at the position, and you still can't make the commitment, then you are a fracking idiot. He obviously doesn't have the soul to be one of the best.
smoking weed doesn't make you a bad person, I know this from personal experience.
Not commiting to stop for something more important, defiantly keeps you from being a top 10 pick.
Cam's issues were considered by the front office, and they determined that they were singular isolated events, and they are likely not to happen again. Whereas, smoking weed is more habitual.. and that is very likely to happen again. I don't see how their character concerns are similar.
Having said that Claiborne, Gilmore & Kirkpatrick will definitely be off the board before him, all possibly in the 1st. After Jenkins there is a drop off in quality but not a massive one.
I think there is a very high chance he's there in the 2nd round. If the draft wasn't deep at CB I think the panthers would draft him but with there much "safer" talent not just at the CB position still on the board, I think they take a long hard look as to whether draft him or not.
If they do draft him, then I think they are not too worried about the character concerns.
IMO if he's the bpa at our positions of need we should take him.
I'm surprised it took us 4 pages to discuss his children. He has 4 kids from 3 mothers at age 23. I'm sure some of you think that's something to be admired but to me it shows a lack of stability and maturity. One child in college is common for athletes, two happens as well, but having four children out of wedlock, without a job puts him in a rare class. No one mentioned his arrests were for violence, they just happened to find dope on him following fights with police and random people at bars.
Everyone does things they regret. This guy continued to do things after being caught and only decided to shape up when it was convenient for him. The word that best describes Janoris is habitual and that's a word Goodell uses right before handing out a suspension.
I don't buy the argument that Ron Rivera can shape him up. I don't think Ron Ron has time! At the end of the season he talked about how inundated he was dealing with all sorts of things that had nothing to do with football and how he wanted to get back involved with teaching and scheming. We have our headcase in Steve Smith, we don't need a team full of them.
I think Jenkins has a shot at being a Revis type guy however..Gilmore more of a Dunta Robinson, Arron Ross performer..
Jenkins could also have a Pac Man Jones type career as well..less guns hopefully.
Promoted to Front Page + rep
if you have a drink from time to time, are you an alcoholic? granted, marijuana is illegal, but that's aside from the imagery you convey..
drug problems.. sheesh..
I like Gilmore in the 2nd round too. High character kid, good grades, good football IQ, gifted physically. Really think he'll be a lot like Gamble.
Would love to see him in Carolina blue though.
it should just be legalized.. and then it'll rightfully be no different than someone who has a drink every now and then..
athletes who are habitual drinkers are ruining their life... lol