'08 WV OL Josh Jenkins (WVU Signee)

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December 18, 2007
WVU football recruits re-thinking options
By From staff reports

The program's two top recruits -- quarterback Terrell Pryor from Monroeville, Pa., and Parkersburg High School guard Josh Jenkins -- are both on the fence. Pryor, in fact, was told by Rodriguez of the coach's plans before anyone in the media or even his own team and now former bosses at WVU.

Jenkins' story is slightly different from Pryor's though his potential defection from a verbal commitment could be more damaging.

The senior offensive lineman, who today became the first player in state history to win back-to-back Hunt Awards, made a verbal commitment to the Mountaineers last year. However, Jenkins has continued to take campus visits to other schools, most notably Ohio State and Florida.

Parkersburg assistant coach Mark McCullough said last week that West Virginia and Ohio State were Jenkins' top two choices, though the player was not going to make a final decision yet. McCullough said that Jenkins' choice would be announced after the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 5.

Jenkins stopped talking to the media two months ago when repeated calls to his cell phone began to interfere with his studies.

Rodriguez's move may weigh heavily on Jenkins' mind.

Sources said Jenkins was contacted by former West Virginia recruiting director and Rodriguez assistant Tony Gibson on Sunday. Gibson reportedly asked Jenkins to pull out of his commitment to West Virginia and join Rodriguez's new regime in Ann Arbor.

The Parkersburg News reported the development in Jenkins' recruitment on Monday.

"Josh is going to do what's best for him," McCullough said last week, before Rodriguez's change of heart. "There's a lot more to it than football. Josh has to make his decision as to what school is going to best fit what he needs as far as academics and prepare him for the world after football."

Charleston Daily Mail

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12/20

By BK...update from Josh's asst. coach...talks about RR leaving WVU, waiting for WVU to hire a new coach and why he is considering his four finalists (WVU, OSU, UM and UF).

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Friday December 21, 2007

Recruit uncertain about committing to post-Rodriguez WVU

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Rich Rodriguez's departure from West Virginia has at least one state recruit sitting on the fence.

Repeat Hunt Award winner Josh Jenkins says he's going to see who replaces Rodriguez before making a final decision on whether to play football in Morgantown.

The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Parkersburg High senior is considered West Virginia's best prep lineman and is the first player to win the Hunt Award twice.

Jenkins says he is considering Ohio State and Florida State, and recently started talking to Pitt and Penn State.

Charleston Daily Mail

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Josh has decommitted from WVU and is focused on Ohio State, Florida State, Pittsburgh and Penn State. He may consider WVU again after they name the coach.

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12/26

By BK...more of the same...visiting FSU on 1/11...says OSU is his number one followed by FSU, WVU, Pitt and PSU.

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Big Reds? Jenkins impressed with talent at U.S. Army Bowl
By DAVE POE, Sports Editor POSTED: January 2, 2008

SAN ANTONIO, Texas ? Josh Jenkins is enjoying every minute of his once-in-a-lifetime experience this week at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

On New Year's Day, Jenkins and his East all-star teammates went through the second of five straight days of two-a-day workouts in preparation for Saturday's noon game against the West team, which will be nationally televised by NBC at noon.

Jenkins is more than impressed with the talent on both squads.

"Speed, speed and more speed,' he said. "Everyone is so fast and so strong.'

Yet, Jenkins, a first-team USA Today all-American and the first West Virginia high school senior selected to participate in the game, is holding his own.

"I'm sore all over,' he said. "Yesterday was the first day since Dec. 1 (the day the Big Reds won back-to-back state championships) that I've had contact,' he said. "Today was much better. The contact was still there but my body knew what was coming. I played well today. Our line opened up some sweet holes.

Big Reds’ Jenkins impressed with talent at U.S. Army Bowl | Parkersburg News and Sentinel

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1/2

Video interview from San Antonio.

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1/4

U.S. Army AA Bowl Chat: Josh Jenkins

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Josh says he is unsure of the WVU situation now but Coach Stewart is in contact. He favors tOSU and FSU but wants to see how things play out.

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1/7

Talks about looking forward to his visit to FSU this weekend. Only talking about OSU and FSU at this point.

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Josh's Coach says he feels the decision is between tOSU and WVU despite his FSU visit this weekend. The decision will come down to comfort level and both schools are good opportunities for him.

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1/9

From the Pitt site...talks about his week in SA and says he will visit FSU this weekend and Pitt next weekend.

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Josh's coach says tOSU and WVU are leading with FSU in third. tOSU's OL recruiting depth will not impact Josh's decision, FSU is promising him to start, and he is looking for stability in the staff.

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Josh's coach says the big man had a great time at FSU but he doesn't see Josh going that far away. He still says its between tOSU and WVU.


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Josh loved FSU and says it gives him plenty to think about. He will visit Pitt next weekend.

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1/14

By A. Jardy at the OSU site. Jenkins says that despite a good visit to FSU this weekend, Ohio State and West Virginia still lead. Coaches from West Virginia, Ohio State, Michigan, and Pitt will all be in this week.

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WTAP - Sports Sports section front

Bill Stewart was in the Mid-0hio Valley earlier today, making his last allotted visit in the recruitment of All-American lineman Josh Jenkins. WTAP had a chance to talk with the Mountaineers new head coach. He discusses the program's focus on West Virginia's top players in the state.

We also had a chance to talk with Josh Jenkins, who says his mind is pretty much made up. He also reflects on the last steps of the recruiting process.

Stewart in town to court Jenkins | Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Stewart in town to court Jenkins
PHS star nearing decision on school

By DAVE POE, Sports Editor POSTED: January 15, 2008

PARKERSBURG ? Like every other community, Parkersburg loves a parade.

But never in the history of this community, incorporated in 1810, has there been a parade like the one taking place this week at the Parkersburg High School football office.

On Monday, new West Virginia University head football coach Bill Stewart and even newer recruiting coordinator John ?Doc? Holliday were at PHS to meet with all-America lineman

Josh Jenkins. After spending some time with Jenkins, members of the PHS coaching and the media, the WVU coaches met with Jenkins and his family at their home, trying to convince the 6-foot-5, 305-pound star to continue his football career in Morgantown next fall.

While Stewart and Holliday were the grand marshals of this parade, it?s going to continue for three more days as some of the other top football programs in America make their respective pitches for Jenkins? services.

Today, University of Michigan recruiting coordinator Tony Gibson ? who not long ago was recruiting Jenkins on behalf of WVU ?will visit the Big Red football complex.

On Wednesday, University of Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt ?whose Panthers upset West Virginia in the regular season finale and knocked the Mountaineers out of the National Championship game, will be in Parkersburg seeking the services of Jenkins ?who is scheduled to make his official visit to the Pittsburgh campus this weekend.

Finally, on Thursday, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel will be back in Parkersburg, taking his final shot at Jenkins.

Other than saying he?s getting close to a decision ? he has little choice with national letter-of-intent day set for Feb. 7 ? Jenkins continues to explore his options, which he has been doing for more than a year.

Jenkins said he would go where he feels most comfortable and where he best fits in, regardless of the distance between that school and Parkersburg.