'09 MD LB Jelani Jenkins (Official Offer)

[GoRU]

Jenkins Planning College Trips - Josh Barr's Recruiting Insider

Good Counsel All-Met linebacker Jelani Jenkins has 30-plus scholarship offers and plans to use the upcoming weeks to figure things out. His father, Maurice, said that Jenkins as an upcoming West Coast trip to visit USC, UCLA and Stanford. There also will be trips to colleges in Florida and another to the midwest.

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7/16

From TheWolverine....Plans on taking several unofficials this summer, one of which could be Michigan. At this point, he doesn't have a plan on when he'll make a decision, but will visit several schools before deciding. Looking for a place where he feels comfortable, early playing time, a good program and coaches.

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07/16

From IrishEyes.com...Jenkins has a visit planned with Notre Dame later this month. Also mentions that he will try and make it up to see Ohio State.

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7/28

By Farrell...made a west coast tour of UCLA, USC and Stanford and recently visited Michigan, Michigan State and Notre Dame and is visiting Illinois today. Talks about his visits to UM, MSU and ND as well as Virginia Tech and says he would also like to visit Boston College and possibly Miami (FL) and Florida.

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9/3

From the UVA site...visited UVA for the USC game and watched former teammate Nick Jenkins. Says he is fairly confident UVA will make the cut when he narrows his list.

[GoRU]

U-M hopes to land fast, aggressive LB Jenkins | The Detroit News | detnews.com

Throughout this recruitment, Maurice Jenkins has stressed the need for his son to keep an open mind and give all of his suitors equal looks. The process of paring things down has been long, but a support group of dad, mom and stepdad have helped him come up with a formula to establish a pecking order.

"Basically we have a matrix that we did on each school," Maurice Jenkins explained. "Part of that matrix is the strength of academics and academic facilities. In Michigan's case, they have an awesome facility there, so you can see they take the academics very seriously.

"One other criterion was that we wanted a team with national exposure that potentially plays in the (BCS) bowl games. Diversity is very important, as is a city that we feel is safe. We want an environment that is diverse where they have respect for different people.

The Wolverines, along with the rest of Jenkins' suitors, are awaiting news of his next cut. The new list of finalists could be determined at any time in the coming weeks, after which another series of visits will take place. From there, the waiting game for a final decision will begin. That too could come at any time.

"It not as if he is being driven by a specific timetable," Mr. Jenkins said of his son. "We figure when it is right, he will know it is right. He won't hesitate or come in with some preconceived idea to wait until signing day or anything like that. We will kind of work our way through official visits and look at schools more closely then."

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Rivals.com Football Recruiting - Recruiting picture clearing for five stars (free)

LB Jelani Jenkins, Olney (Md.) Our Lady of Good Counsel: Jenkins is a tough read, having narrowed his list to 15 schools only recently. Some schools have to be considered long-shots, such as Boston College, Clemson, Illinois, Maryland and Oregon. While Penn State long has been considered the front-runner, keep an eye on Florida. Still, until Jenkins sets his official visits, everything is speculation.

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ESPN - Midwest Recruiting Blog

Under Armour All-American linebacker Jelani Jenkins (Wheaton, Md./Good Counsel) had dozens of scholarship offers before narrowing his list down to 15 schools. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Jenkins is considering: USC, Penn State, Illinois, Virginia Tech, Michigan, Oregon, Miami, LSU, Maryland, Notre Dame, Stanford, Boston College, Florida, Clemson and Tennessee.

That list will be cut slightly this week.

"He is going to take off three more schools this week," Maurice Jenkins, Jelani's father said. "Then he'll start his official visits after Nov. 22."

Jenkins has led his team to a 9-0 record. After one more regular season game, there will be one and possibly two playoff games with the season ending the weekend of Nov. 22 at the latest. Jenkins will then begin official visits.

Jenkins visited USC, Stanford, Illinois, Michigan, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Notre Dame during the summer, and attended the USC at Virginia game at the beginning of the football season.

"He saw a lot of schools in the summer," Maurice Jenkins said. "He might go back and see some again (on official visits), but he might want to visit some he has not visited."

Jelani Jenkins is expected to take all five official visits before selecting a college, according to his father.

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ESPN - With a nickname like "Baby Seau" it's little wonder Te'o is among best LBs - Football Recruiting

Best blitzers

What Scouts Inc. looks for: Savvy blitzers who can disguise the pressure, anticipate the snap and make themselves thin when needed. Explosive first step and the ability to accelerate to full speed quickly are vital. Needs to find the correct seam at full speed, attack from different angles and possess good bend with hand technique coming off the edge. Best blitzers come with reckless abandon and deliver high-impact, tempo-changing hits.

2. Jelani Jenkins (Wheaton, Md./Good Counsel)

If Jenkins lands in a heavy pressure system at the next -- look out. He is a quick-twitch athlete who can generate a striking burst of speed when given the green light to blitz. A devastating hitter, Jenkins generates the power of a 235-pound linebacker on contact. Explosive in space now, just wait until this 16-year-old finishes physically developing.

Best diagnostic skills

What Scouts Inc. looks for: Reactive athleticism, meaning a player's body reacting instantaneously to what his eyes see. Needs to make quick, decisive reads by following proper keys. Instincts, football intelligence and a natural feel for the game are intangible attributes.

1. Jelani Jenkins (Wheaton, Md./Good Counsel)

Jenkins is a rare quick-twitch athlete who consistently explodes out of stance and beats linemen to the point of attack. He takes very few false or wasted steps to the ball carrier. A very reactive athletic whose savvy skills as a football player seem to come very naturally to him.