Ohio State’s Michael Jenkins will never shimmy and shake after making a touchdown catch. And he definitely has no plans to pull out a Sharpie.
While other receivers begin looking for tickertape parades after first-down grabs, the reserved Jenkins starts looking for the huddle.
Preening just isn’t his style.
“It’s not part of my personality,” he said.
“I’ve been more of a quiet, laid-back kind of guy. Go out there and get the job done and celebrate after the game.”
Jenkins learned the hard way.
During his high school days in Tampa, he scored a TD and suddenly turned into Keyshawn Johnson.
“I ran to about the 50-yard line and danced,” he said sheepishly. “I got a flag on that one.”
Jenkins hasn’t shown off since then, although he’s had plenty of chances.
He hauled in a season-saving, 37-yard TD grab with 96 seconds left in a 10-6 win over Purdue last week. He also made indispensable catches in close calls at Wisconsin and Cincinnati.
“Michael Jenkins is, in my opinion–if you go game to game consistency-wise–the best receiver in the conference,” OSU quarterback Craig Krenzel said.
Coach Jim Tressel added, “You can count on him.”
The lanky junior has caught a pass in each of his 23 games as a starter. With 96 career grabs, he is four away from passing Jeff Graham and moving into 10th place on OSU’s all-time list.
But even with his success, Jenkins continues to look for an edge. He joined the track team last winter to increase his speed and plans to suit up again in January.
More Top Picks Fitness
Longtime track coach Russ Rogers has been working with football players since the mid-1960s, having been hired by the New York Giants to help 1964 Olympic gold medalist Henry Carr make the transition to the NFL.
Although Jenkins is deceptively fast, the coach was able to supply a few pointers.
“When he was running (patterns), he would be reaching out his hands–and that would slow him down,” Rogers said. “I’ve gotten him to remember to keep pumping his arms and run under the ball.”
Jenkins is first on the Buckeyes with 47 catches for 833 yards and five touchdowns. And even in an offense that runs the ball more and throws it less than any team in the Big Ten, he is among the conference leaders in every receiving category.
Rogers, who is a regular at football practices, lamented, “I wish they’d throw to him more.”
Naturally, Jenkins does, too. But he’s not about to complain.
“We’re not going to throw the ball 40 or 50 times a game or I’d have the opportunity to get 10 or 12 catches,” he said.
“We’re winning, and that’s all I care about now.”