OHIO STATE FOOTBALL Consistency defines Jenkins
The wideout has gained 2,802 yards over the past three seasons.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Over the past three years, no Ohio State football player has been as dependable or as consistent as Michael Jenkins.
Maybe that's why Jenkins was voted most valuable player by his teammates.
"I'm a bit surprised," the 6-foot-5, 215-pound senior from Tampa, Fla. said. "But it's a great honor that my teammates thought of me that highly."
Jenkins has strung together seasons of 49, 61 and 50 catches the last three seasons as Ohio State has won 31 of 38 games heading into a date on Jan. 2 against Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl. He's contributed 2,802 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns over that span.
There have been very few players who have played so consistently well, game in and game out.
"The reason I voted for Mike Jenkins as the MVP was his career," tight end Ben Hartsock said. "He did it this year, he did it last year and he did it the year before that. He's been a consistent four-year player for us. Ever since he started running routes, he's been making big plays."
After games, Jenkins is more prone to talk about someone else's defensive stop than he is his winning touchdown. Quiet and almost shy and with an even disposition, he doesn't seek the spotlight -- except when it seeks him during a tight game.
"Part of the reason that Mike Jenkins was voted MVP is because of the type of person he is," coach Jim Tressel said. "He's unselfish. He does whatever the team asks."
Solid contribution
Take, for example, the game between No. 8 Ohio State and No. 9 Iowa on Oct. 18.
The Buckeyes had been having difficulty with returners making bad decisions or fumbles. So Jenkins was inserted to return punts and promptly brought one back 54 yards to turn the tide in a 19-10 victory.
Jenkins pulled in the kick at his own 46 and immediately sidestepped an attempted tackle by Iowa's Bob Sanders. Then he cut through the right side, avoiding diving tackles by Mike Klinkenborg and Grant Steen for a score on only the second return of his career.
"I didn't even really know the return (blocking) call," Jenkins said later. "I didn't know if they were blocking it to the side or up the middle. I just got the ball and there was already a guy on my leg. I made a cut to my right and took another step. The guys threw some great blocks and I was able to take it to the end zone."
It says a lot about Jenkins that what he did against Iowa wasn't close to being his most memorable game. Big catches in the games against Purdue, Illinois, Michigan and Miami last year helped the Buckeyes salvage wins.
This year, he provided touchdown grabs in close wins over North Carolina State, Penn State and Purdue.
"He has constantly made big plays when we've needed them," Tressel said.
Solid player
And he does it without drawing attention to himself. Jenkins has become a possession receiver who is a threat to turn even the shortest pass into a long gainer.
"He's not the flashiest guy," Hartsock said. "But he'll return a punt for a touchdown here and there. He made some amazing plays against Penn State, but he also makes those 10- or 12-yard outcuts that don't look fancy. He gets tackled as soon as he catches them, but he catches them every time."
The man expected to assume Jenkins' role as No. 1 receiver next year is Santonio Holmes. Jenkins has helped educate the freshman wide-out.
"The main things I learned from him are poise and focus and concentration," Holmes said. "When he comes into practice every day he never complains about anything. He just gets in and does his job."
True to form, Jenkins deflects the praise he receives. He judges his season based on the team.
"We didn't hit our goal that we set forth at the beginning to win the outright Big Ten title," he said. "But 10-2 isn't that bad."