Jenkins has swagger of veteran player

Although he’s a true freshman, Janoris Jenkins carries the swagger of a veteran player. He has the perfect mentality for a cornerback and it has a lot to do with why this younger from Pahokee has made an immediate impact with the Florida Gators.

Jenkins (5-10, 185) has started four games at cornerback and he has already established himself as a playmaker while helping the fifth-ranked Gators get off to a 5-1 start. He doesn’t lack for confidence.

“You’ve got have confidence to play any position,” Jenkins said. “If you don’t have confidence, then you don’t believe in yourself. You have to come in here with a lot of confidence and a chip on your shoulder.”

Florida sophomore free safety Major Wright was in the same place as Jenkins last season. Wright played in all 13 of the Gators’ games as a true freshman a year ago and was impressed right away with Jenkins.

“He’s guy that you didn’t have to teach very much when he came in,” Wright said. “He had some things that he had to go over, but he’s a guy that just goes and goes. You can rely on him. He’s a freshman, but you can count on him. He’s a quick learner and a smart guy.”

Jenkins led Pahokee to consecutive Class 2B state titles and then enrolled last January at Florida. Through hard work, he earned a starting role when the Gators opened their season against Hawaii.

He has played extensively every game but has started against Hawaii, Arkansas and LSU. In a reserve role against Tennessee, he forced a fumble that set up a Florida touchdown and made his first career interception in the end zone to kill a Tennessee drive. Last week against LSU he got his first career sack.

“Ever since I’ve came here, I’ve tried to make big plays,” Jenkins said. “I have a lot of good teammates around me and that has really helped.”

There wasn’t much of a learning curve for Jenkins. His acceleration to a starting role was something he thought would come, but not as fast as it has.

“I didn’t think that I would be starting, but I thought I would get a lot of playing time,” Jenkins said. “I’m excited. I worked hard during two-a-days and it has paid off.”

Florida will now turn its rival to SEC East foe Kentucky in hopes of continuing its momentum down the stretch.

“We’ve got a lot of improvements to make,” Jenkins said. “You want to get better each day. We know that we have to keep swarming to the ball, attacking more, and things like that.”