2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: Kris Jenkins, DL, Michigan
Welcome to the Exclusive Sneak Peek: Kris Jenkins, a cornerback out of Michigan. He is from Olney, MD, and was a 4-star recruit from Olney High School.
Jenkins kicked off his collegiate career in 2020 by redshirting for the University of Michigan. In 202 as a sophomore, he appeared in 8 games where he racked up 8 solo tackles, 14 assists, and 0.5 tackles for loss in a solid debut campaign for the Wolverines.
In 2022, as a junior, he saw his first action as a full-time player where he appeared in 14 games. He totaled 29 solo tackles, 25 assists, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks on the year as he demonstrated his full potential.
His senior season was a mixed bag that saw up-and-down results. He appeared in 15 games and his solo tackle total fell to 17. His assist total also fell to 20. He managed to increase his tackle-for-loss total to 4.5 and recorded 2.5 sacks while adding in 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery.
Measurables
Height: 6’3” (41st-percentile)
Weight: 305 lbs (78th-percentile)
Age: 22.4
Class: Senior
NCAA Statistics
| Tackles | Def Int | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF |
| 2020 | Michigan | Big Ten | FR | DL | |||||||||||||||
| *2021 | Michigan | Big Ten | SO | DL | 8 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| *2022 | Michigan | Big Ten | JR | 14 | 29 | 25 | 54 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| *2023 | Michigan | Big Ten | SR | DL | 15 | 17 | 20 | 37 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | Michigan | 54 | 59 | 113 | 8.5 | 4.5 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Scouting Reports
Strengths
- Is elite against the run and possesses excellent strength.
- He is difficult to push around and is nearly impossible to move off the line.
- His ability to read the run is elite and makes him one of the best run-stoppers in this draft class.
- He fights through blocks well and has an excellent area of power and strength moves.
Weaknesses
- He struggles to get home as a pass-rusher and needs to refine his pass-rush techniques.
- Has a lean build that leaves him ineffective against double teams.
- He lacks explosiveness off the snap which could limit his upside and effectiveness.
- Is far quicker and more explosive in the middle of the line and struggles on the outside.
Pre-Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital: Late Round 2
Ideal Landing Spot: Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are in desperate need of two things, a cornerback and an edge rusher to play opposite Aidan Hutchinson. If the Lions choose to fill the need at cornerback at the end of the first round, it’s not a stretch to see them filling their edge rusher need in the second round.
If you assume the Lions follow the above strategy, the easy pick for them is to select Hutchinson’s Michigan teammate Kris Jenkins. The duo were both standouts for the Wolverines and they would likely be just as dynamic on the Detroit Lions defensive line.
The Lions adding a first-round corner and Jenkins in the second round could make their defense truly scary and propel them to a Super Bowl.
