Name: Kris Jenkins, Jr.
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 285 lbs.
High school: Olney (MD) Our Lady of Good Counsel
Position: Defensive tackle
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #94
Last year: I ranked Jenkins #78 and said he would be a backup defensive tackle (LINK). He started four games and made 22 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss.
TTB Rating: 77
Jenkins didn’t exactly have a breakout season in 2021, but he definitely made his presence felt, which is saying something for a redshirt freshman defensive lineman. Weighing in the 260s, he used his quickness, leverage, and strength to get underneath and split offensive linemen. I kept expecting to see him get blown off the ball, and it almost never happened. In Michigan’s amorphous defensive front, he started a handful of games, playing 3-tech and some 5-tech. He didn’t make a lot of plays, but he didn’t get taken advantage of very often, either.
Jenkins has put on about 20 pounds this off-season and appears to be ready to take over for Chris Hinton at defensive tackle. There have been positive reports from practices talking about his ability to make an impact. I expect him to be a starter, but how much of a difference-maker will he be? Considering his quickness and pedigree – his dad and uncle play defensive tackle in the NFL – he has the potential to be pretty good, but whether he gets there as a redshirt sophomore is a question. I tend to think most interior defensive linemen need to get to year four or year five before they really take off. Jenkins should begin to break out this year and then 2023 could be a very good year.
Prediction: Starting defensive tackle; 35 tackles, 2 sacks
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