Jordan Jenkins (34) showed potential with this TD against Washington.
Senior Oregon State RB Jordan Jenkins is ready to take his last shot at being the starter this fall.
Jenkins worked his way up the depth chart from walk-on, scholarship player, onto special teams and as the back on passing downs last season.
A shoulder injury, surgery and lengthy rehab before last season slowed his progress and never let him be a candidate as the primary ball carrier.
“In my head, that’s what I want,” Jenkins said of being the starter. “I play running back so I want to run the ball. At the same time I’m finding my role and competing.”
He’s healed now and in the best shape of his life. Jenkins put on 10 pounds and is eager to run the ball.
“The thing about missing the spring and the beginning of fall camp (last year), reps are so vital,” Jenkins said. “Being out here in the spring I can feel that everything is healed and I’m not worried about anything.”
Jenkins hopes that added weight helps him be a more aggressive pass blocker and someone who can run between tackles.
“I have a little more strength and hope to be stronger up the middle,” Jenkins said. “Last year I was as light as I’ve ever been. I was trying to maintain the speed. Being bigger, and by fall camp be even bigger, will help.”
15 comments
FAUBeav says:
Apr 12, 2012
I hate to sound harsh, but please tell me this is a joke. A former walk on who doesn’t pass the visual test of what a Rb Should look like, is making a push up the depth chart? Nothing personal, but I think this reiterates the poor recruiting the staff has done over the past 5 years.
Cliff, what is his 40 speed? What are his stats from last year?
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Apr 12, 2012
He’s actually pretty quick when has an opening. I know, you can say that about all the backs.
He didn’t car last year due to the shoulder injury. The point is he’s healed, and doing more this spring to give it a shot.
mike says:
Apr 12, 2012
I’m not as concerned as much about his past status (walk on) as his ability to get through a hole, pass block (essential)
and make people miss in the open field (didn’t see that last year).
Like James Rodgers, this kid may not be prototypical, but if he’s a football player, he’s a football player.
Cliff-I loved, loved, loved Riley’s talking about his receivers blocking down field. Was this a one time point of emphasis or can we actually expect it on the field this fall?
Cliff Kirkpatrick says:
Apr 12, 2012
It was something that stood out that day. We’ll see if they keep it up and into the season.
Steve says:
Apr 12, 2012
Pretty much the same path Mike Haas made a few years ago,.
FAUBeav says:
Apr 12, 2012
Yes, Hass was a walk on but that is where the comparison ends. In general I am just disappointed we have such a precipitous drop off after Quizz left. Our options at RB are a walk on who is now a senior and who has little playing time and appears to be very undersized (which some people will cover up by saying he is quick) an often hurt Agnew, true freshman we don’t really know about and then a few sophomores we don’t know what to do with.
Beavrob says:
Apr 12, 2012
Very undersized?? According to the depth chart provided by Cliff, at 6’1″ 209 lbs, Jenkins is the biggest back on the roster. Quizz was only 5’7″, 190 lbs.
alex says:
Apr 12, 2012
FAU,
You’re confused about Jenkins. He is plenty big, no issue there. The problem is he is sl-o-o-o-w. He is the opposite of quick, not sure where people are pulling that out of. There was one game last year where we ran him out of the backfield, and it was hard to watch.
Give him a head of steam and throw the ball to him, and he can be pretty good. And he had a couple plays where he levelled a defender and kept on trucking. But quickness and change of direction are major problems.
FAUBeav says:
Apr 12, 2012
Maybe I need to qualify my term big. Quizz was small but strong. To my eyes, JJ doesn’t look strong. 209 lbs on a 6’1 frame Isn’t all that impressive for an RB.
Hey, I hope e proves me wrong!
alex says:
Apr 12, 2012
He was really slow out of the backfield last year, painfully so.
Jenkins is a role player. He’s a good blocker, good routes, good hands, great toughness. In other words, a 3rd down back.
He would be a disaster as an every-down back. We should be looking at Woods, Brown, Agnew (if healthy) and Stevenson for our full time starter.
OrangeInside says:
Apr 12, 2012
I’m also glad to hear the emphasis on WR blocking down field. When I watched the civil war in 2010 (didn’t watch 2011) one of the things I noticed on running plays was Oregon’s wide receivers ability to block down field. On just about every running play that game, Oregon’s WRs blocked our DB’s about 10 yards down field and held their blocks for 3-4 seconds. Conversly on our running plays especially to the outside, our WR’s blocks were either wiffs or blown up at the line of scrimmage on most plays. It really was an eye opener for a football novice like myself.
Riley’s emphasis (if it truely is) encourages me. I’m also encouraged as it seems the kids Coach Brennan recruited last cycle were generally bigger WR which will help in blocking. This year he also looks like he going after a fair number or bigger WR.
DAve K 12345 says:
Apr 12, 2012
FAU,
You are forgetting about Storm Woods the RS Freshman in your highly negative rant.
sistersbeav says:
Apr 12, 2012
WOW, FAU, you are the biggest hater, negatori like, doom/gloom fan I have seen in a while! Please get back on your Paxil.
OS_Beaver says:
Apr 12, 2012
2012 OSU Season Breakdown:
http://beaverbyte.com
shane says:
Apr 12, 2012
i have no issue if he wins the starting job and ends up being productive…really i’ll be happy with whoever plays as long as they’re productive, but glad to see him trying so hard to earn the spot, we need that with every player in every position