Green Bay Packers 2017 Draft: Interview with Miami safety Rayshawn Jenkins
While much has been said about a deep and varied cornerback class in the upcoming draft, the safety position—while not as rich in overall depth—has its own collection of formidable athletes that can provide several teams with both an intimidating physical presence at the line of scrimmage as well as coverage skills to drop back and defend many of the league’s pass-catching weapons at tight end.
Malik Hooker, Jamal Adams, Budda Baker, and safety/linebacker Jabril Peppers are the names that roll off everyone’s tongue when impact safeties become the topic of discussion, but a middle cluster of hard-hitting prospects will be there for the taking long after the much-ballyhooed trio is off the board by Day 3, including a physically-imposing defensive back from the University of Miami with a nose for the football.
Coming out of Admiral Farragut Academy in nearby St. Petersburg, Rayshawn Jenkins was a former three-star recruit that enrolled into “The U” without a designated position given his versatility that saw him play quarterback, running back, wide receiver and a host of defensive roles at the high-school level.
And while Jenkins briefly had visions of following in the footsteps of Jim Kelly or developing into the next Michael Irvin, the multi-purpose weapon opted to line up at safety for the simple reason of that’s where his team needed him to contribute.
It didn’t take long for the 6-foot-1 collegian to embrace playing in the middle of the secondary and assume a menacing take-no-prisoner’s temperament that’s become synonymous with a Hurricanes program that has produced a plethora of hard-nosed defensive tone setters at the position, including Bennie Blades, Brandon Merriweather and Ed Reed.
In fact, Jenkins fast became one of those defenders that could always be counted on to play with a sense of urgency in that he craved contact and attacked the line of scrimmage with reckless abandon.
In addition, the hard-charging human projectile also flashed great reaction skills in pass coverage in the process of growing more comfortable in his new role.
His overall awareness of what was happening in all parts of the field accelerated his maturity into emerging as one of the team’s leaders.
Jenkins’ mettle was tested early in his junior year when a significant lower-back injury sidelined him for the entire 2014 season.
The one-time hurdling champion’s inner belief in himself and insatiable zest for the game allowed him to not only return the following year after being officially redshirted, but he went on to play in 26 consecutive games.
His last go-around as a fifth-year senior saw the new coaching staff turn the safety loose by encouraging him—and the entire defense for that matter—to attack hard and fast even at the expense of giving up a big play or two.
Jenkins’ length (see 32 ¾” arms), tenacity and experience playing against high-level competition on a weekly basis undoubtedly provide him with an intriguing skillset that just about any team can benefit from.
In what role and with what frequency he will be featured are questions that will be determined by the team the drafts Jenkins and how the future rookie performs in training camp.
No. 29’s quest to reassure NFL talent evaluators of his value at the next level continues later this afternoon, as the best defensive backs in the nation convene in Indianapolis to run, jump and execute position drills to the best of their respective abilities.
Here is my recent conversation with Jenkins a few days prior to the kickoff of this year’s scouting combine.
Q: What types of things are you focusing on in terms of your training in the offseason?
A: The offseason is going pretty well. I’m training down in Boca Raton, FL with Tony Villani of XPE. He has a great track record of helping guys maximize their potential for the NFL Scouting Combine. I haven’t been working on anything specific. I’ve been working on everything as a whole. I feel like there’s always room for improvement in every and any aspect of your game. I’ve been just trying to day-by-day piece my game and my attributes together piece by piece and I think I’m making progress down here in South Florida.
Q: Speaking of your progress, can you fill me in on the strides you’ve made over the past two or three years in relation to your coverage ability and being able to communicate with your teammates in the secondary?
A: I would definitely say that big strides were made. I feel a lot of that came from experience and maturity. As you play for a long time, you gain more knowledge and you just know the game and become wiser. Then you can pass that on to younger players.
Q: How do you compare yourself to the top safeties in this draft? Players like Malik Hooker, Jamal Adams, Budda Baker, etc.
A: I definitely feel like I can play with the best. There’s no question or doubt about it. I feel like the safety class is really deep. I don’t look at myself as a less talented player than those guys. I feel like I can do everything they can and I think I will get to display that come Monday at the combine.
Q: I know you played both offense and defense in high school. How did you end up at safety?
A: I was recruited as an athlete. So coming into college, I was looking into the receiver position. I wanted the ball in my hands. I also wanted to play quarterback until I found out how hard it was to play quarterback at the collegiate level…so that went out the window really quick. My team obviously needed me at the safety position and me, being unselfish and the guy I am, did what the coach told me to do and moved over to safety. In my opinion, it was the best decision of my life. I love playing safety and I love playing defense.
Q: Can you talk about what went into the decision to change your number from 29 to 26?
A: When I came in, I didn’t get the number I wanted. I had 29, but when 26 became available, I [knew] that a legend I grew up idolizing played with this number and it would be a great honor for me to wear the number 26. My coaches were kind of pushing this also. Sean Taylor was probably my favorite safety of all time.
Q: What strikes me about you is the ferocity that you play with. What allows you to perform like that especially in the way you aggressively attack the line of scrimmage?
A: It’s just my mentality. If I’m going to mess up, I’m going to do it at 100 miles per hour. I rarely mess up, but at the same time, I do everything at 100 miles per hour, man. You make more plays that way. You’ll find yourself around the ball. Also my safety coach Ephraim Banda and my defensive coordinator Manny Diaz really preached to our defense to get 11 hats around the ball. If you can’t do that simple thing, then you won’t be able to play for those guys. They were relentless when it came to that.
Q: I spoke to your former teammate Corn Elder about a week or so ago and he plays with that same mentality.
A: Yeah, that’s what our defense was built around. It was all about getting to the ball and tackling…and a lot of good things would just come our way. Things would just tilt in our favor.
Q: Deon Bush of the Chicago Bears is another player you once played with at “The U”. Can you explain what your relationship with him is like?
A: Yeah, that’s one of my closest friends that I met with at the University of Miami. In fact, I just got done talking to him today. So we both obviously still have a relationship, even though we’ve kind of went our separate ways. But who knows? Maybe I’ll end up on the same team with him. But we still communicate. We have our group chats with with all the former Canes that were here during the [Al] Golden era. It’s important for me to keep that brotherhood and that rapport even after college. The people you meet in that locker room and that you meet in college are going to be the people you’re going to remember for a lifetime.
Q: David Njoku is another guy you shared a locker room with and he could be a first-round pick. How was it like matching up with him in practice?
A: Man, it was just competitive every day. Me and him, we just went at it one-on-one. It was great to go up against guys of that caliber and I’m sure he would say the same thing about me. He is a phenomenal athlete and just so physically imposing—it’s ridiculous, man. There are a lot of athletes like that from the University of Miami.
Q: What do remember about your week at the Senior Bowl?
A: First off, the talent was just through the roof. I was playing with the best of the best. I felt the coaches and the staff there did a great job of running everything. They tried to make it as close to an NFL game as possible. It was really fun and a great experience. I appreciated it and I would advise anyone who gets an invite to go. It’s life changing.
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Q: What are you looking to prove to the 32 NFL teams that will be examining you at the combine in Indy?
A: If there’s one thing, people who think I’m going to run a 4.6 are going to be proven wrong. I’m a big guy, but I can run—I’ll tell you that.
Q: So if I were to ask you what the most underrated part of your game is, would it in fact be your speed?
A: I would definitely tell you it’s most underrated [trait] and also my ballhawking abilities. A lot of people don’t look at the fact that I have nine career picks along with [many] PBUs and sacks. But it’s just the nature of the beast…the nature of the game. I can’t complain. I don’t look for anything easy. I’m just ready to prove myself.
Q: You missed your 2014 season to a back injury. Are you fully recovered from it?
A: Yeah, I haven’t had a problem with my back in two-and-a-half years. When I first had my surgery, it was Aug. 18, 2014. I haven’t had a problem since then. I thank God for it.
Q: Do you get the time to watch the Packers play and what’s your opinion of them?
A: I like the Packers a lot. My former teammate Ladarius Gunter, he’s a corner there. I watch him quite a bit because Gunter was someone I hung out with. You have a lot of playmakers on that defense. It wouldn’t be bad to play for them.
Q: You are one of the bigger safeties at about 6-foot-1, 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, correct?
A: At the combine, I’ll be between 215 and 217.
Q: Any safeties at the next level you try to watch and learn from?
A: I don’t specifically look at one player. I can definitely say I like different attributes from different types of players like Eric Berry. I like how his man-to-man coverage has just become elite. I really like that aspect of his game. I really like Cam Chancellor physically. The other guy I’ll mention is Eric Reid. I like his ballhawking. There’s quite a few you could put on the list, but if I were to pick a few guys, it would be those three.
Q: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
A: Interstellar. I really like that movie. It was really deep. I like movies that make you think. That movie had me on Google the next day trying to figure out the meaning.
Q: Who is your favorite music artist?
A: Future, Young Thug and a variety of other people.
Q: If you were unattached, which female celebrity would you love going on a date with?
A: Meagan Good
Q: Can you give me three words that best describe you as an athlete, a teammate and as an individual?
A: Physical, leadership and great teammate.
Ralph: Best of luck at the combine. I’ll be watching.
Rayshawn: Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.