Earlier this month, Georgia nose tackle John Jenkins (pictured, No. 6) requested an evaluation from NFL scouts as he tested his draft status, leading some to believe that perhaps his one year in Athens would be his only.
According to Jenkins, that’s not going to be the case. Jenkins confirmed to reporters while in Tampa in perpetration for the Outback Bowl that he would be back for one more year with the Bulldogs.
“I just wanted to go through the process,” Jenkins said. “You never know until you do it where you stand.”
Apparently, not high enough. Jenkins said he hadn’t received his draft evaluation yet, but he didn’t get the indication he was first-round material. Yet.
“I belong at Georgia another year,” said Jenkins. “I believe at the end of next year I’d have no choice but to be ready.”
His defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham, agreed.
“If you’re not a top 15 pick you should stay in school,” Grantham said. “If you’re a top 15 pick, the amount of money that you make you can justify it. But if you’re not, you should work to become that.
Jenkins has 28 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, three sacks and 10 quarterback pressures this season on a defense that played much better -- albeit against teams that struggled offensively -- down the stretch of the 2011 season.