Kalan Jenkins has one job as Georgia State’s nose tackle: Knock the other team back.
He’s slightly undersized (270 pounds), a bit too tall (6-foot-5), not the quickest or strongest guy on the team, and he’s never played the position until earlier this year. But Jenkins does one thing very well: He doesn’t stop.
Leg-churning leverage and technique are just as important as strength when you are sometimes the only man between the line of scrimmage and the end zone.
“We call him Robocop,” defensive line coach Chris Ward said. “He just keeps coming.”
Jenkins knows what he is supposed to do. He actually knows what all three linemen are supposed to do because he has played each position since he came to Atlanta.
That doesn’t make it any easier. Because he’s tall, he said he struggles to stay low, but he’s making plays in practices and scrimmages.
The Panthers need him to hold up the middle of the line to keep opponents from running with the same ease as last season, when they averaged 187.4 yards per game.
“It comes down to fighting inside there, never stop fighting,” Jenkins said.
He doesn’t give up easily.
Jenkins signed with Georgia State after leading Navarro Junior College (Texas) to a 21-2 ranking. But he’s not what some consider a typical junior college student. As coaches are fond of saying, sometimes there’s a reason players are at junior colleges: usually for either academic or personal problems. Curry said he’s guilty of saying and thinking that, but Jenkins is different. He has a 3.95 GPA in exercise science and wants to pursue a doctorate. He is, and has been, a solid citizen.
How did he end up at a junior college?
He was on the verge of accepting an appointment to the Air Force Academy when the Falcons told him that he would have to be a walk-on. That wasn’t appealing, but by then it was too late to sign or enroll anywhere else, so Jenkins went to Navarro.
He played H-back there, catching nine passes for 154 yards in 2009 when Georgia State assistant Mike Riddle found him and eventually convinced him to sign after a short recruiting period.
However, after Jenkins enrolled, the defensive line became thin and the team already had a few good tight ends. The coaches asked if he would be interested in switching to the defensive line, where he played at Midlothian (Texas) High School.
The moves and techniques came back quickly. He started every game last season, making 30 tackles with a sack.
During the offseason, the coaches switched Jenkins and Christo Bilukidi, with Bilukidi moving to end and Jenkins to tackle in the 3-4 scheme, which uses an end, a tackle and a nose tackle.
There was more change coming. End A.J. Portee transferred from Connecticut, and Jenkins said it was quickly obvious that Portee was going to make an impact.
Because the coaches love Jenkins’ style, leadership and results, they asked him to move further inside to nose tackle. He played defensive end at 255 pounds. He’s put on 15 pounds to try to take the pounding that comes with fighting off double- or triple-teams inside.
“Best natural position for him? Probably not,” coach Bill Curry said. “But is it the best place he can help us win? Yes.”
After a few weeks deep inside the defensive line, Jenkins said he has more respect for the position. He’s constantly getting beaten up. Of course, the good-natured Jenkins points out that playing inside means you don’t have to run as much to get hit hard.
And because he’s so smart, Jenkins can play anywhere and learn the plays in a short time, Curry said. But it’s his drive that makes him so valuable.
“He’ll give you his heart, which is what you need to do on defense,” Curry said.
Etc.
As Georgia State’s camp winds to a close, Curry said the Panthers “are going to be a well-conditioned football team going into the season.” Curry credits the positive effect that strength-and-conditioning coach Ben Pollard has had on the program since his arrival in June. “There is a clear line of demarcation between the guys who worked all summer and really got after it in our strength-and-conditioning program, and those who did not. And the team has seen it, too,” Curry said Friday. ... The Panthers will hold a scrimmage Saturday at the GSU Practice Complex. ... Freshman Lynquez Blair from Swainsboro has moved to wide receiver from cornerback.
About the Author
