"Mammoth" 6'9 Tulsa Offensive Tackle Trint Jenkins Commits to the UTEP Miners
by Adrian Mac on Jan 26, 2011 11:09 AM MST
in UTEP Football Recruiting
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The UTEP Miners have reportedly received a verbal commitment from 6'9, 317 lb. offensive tackle Trint Jenkins. Jenkins played for Victory Christian High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The commitment was first reported by Matt Baker of the Tulsa World. Jenkins first came across our radar here when Baker reported that UTEP was the first FBS school to offer Jenkins a scholarship just over a week ago.
According to Rivals, Jenkins was also offered a scholarship to Jacksonville State. The report notes that Jenkins was also considering the Arkansas St. Red Wolves, South Alabama, and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. According to Baker, UTEP views Jenkins as a "diamond in the rough."
Rivals has not given Jenkins a "star rating." ESPN rates Trint as a 2 star prospect and ranks him as the 181st best offensive tackle in the nation this year.
According to ESPN:
Jenkins flashes the ability to dominate opponents with his size however his explosion and ability to handle quickness must improve. Has the size for the offensive tackle position at the major level of competition however we see the need for improved athleticism; his height will certainly allow for additional bulk
Scout.com ranks Jenkins as a 2 star prospect as well. Greg Powers of Scout.com has a feature ($) for subscribers on Jenkins here.Scout's profile calls him "mammoth" and notes:
The mammoth Jenkins runs a 5.2 forty-yard dash, bench presses 300 pounds, and has a core 3.0 GPA.
Watching his highlights (embedded above), I can't help but be struck with how light on his feet the 300 lb.+ Jenkins is. In high school, he played right tackle. He's definitely raw and I'd guess he's a lock to redshirt in 2011.
Jenkins becomes the third high school offensive tackle to join UTEP's 2011 class. UTEP also has verbal commitments from Lyan Lindblade, of Richmond, TX, and Cody Elenz, of Copperas Cove. The Miners have also have a commitment from JUCO prospect James Martin, a left tackle, who figures to battle for a starting spot next season.
Considering how many UTEP offensive linemen graduated this season, and how many seniors are on the roster now, it was essential that Mike Price bring in some high school linemen that can develop in the future. The "mammoth" Jenkins looks like he can be one heck of a building block. The fact that UTEP plucked Jenkins from Conference USA rival Tulsa's backyard? Well, that's just icing on the cake.
For more on UTEP"s 2011 recruiting class, check out Miner Rush's Recruiting Big Board.
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Raw is the right way of putting it
This kid is huge, but undoubtedly needs a lot of work to play at the D1 level. I think its great though, I’m sure if he works at it he’ll be great. He’s too big not to be.
I think the first couple of clips in the video are hilarious. The kid he blocks looks like he’s 5’2 115lbs, and he just completely steamrolls him.
Yes, it is-
I’m sure Trint will be extra motivated when UTEP plays TU each year. He’s going to be project, like just about all frosh lineman, but you have to love his potential and upside.
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
By the way
If you haven’t played this video with the audio on- DO IT NOW! The music is so random that I love it.
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
Hate to be a downer
A diamond in the rough?… I hope so. He looks really rough in the YouTube video. The guy doesn’t drive with his legs on rushing downs, he pushes with his arms! He looks really awkward in pass protection even going up against guys half his size. With his size along with proper fundamentals and strength conditioning he should be pancaking everyone who lines up against him. Heck, every running play should be behind him. I would bet any DE or LB with good speed will get around him easily. What’s more, no other FBS school gave him an offer?… OU, OSU and Tulsa aren’t interested? But maybe this is what UTEP can recruit. I hate typing that. Taking marginal players and trying to mold them into something… Perhaps the O-Line coach can ride his tail and get him into playing shape. I really do hope so. In closing I offer a brief story regarding Don Haskins’ outlook for recruiting players, at least during the 1980s. It was hard for UTEP to recruit against big schools, and that included good big men. But Haskins knew that there was (is?) a lot of talented players in the 6-5 to 6-7 range. So he always preferred to bring in the 6-6 guys to play a variety of roles. And he would not recruit some available 7-footer who couldn’t catch the ball let alone shoot, rebound or pass it.
I agree with most of what you say...
but I would argue that 6’9 tackles don’t come around too often to UTEP. This guy definitely looks like a project, but our track record shows we have developed some quality lineman over the years and I am hoping this guy becomes a monster lets say by the time he is a Junior. That’s 3 years to get the technique down and bulk up even more if that’s possible. Welcome to the U big guy.
I'll just point out that
Those highlights are from Trint’s junior year. I will work on getting senior year highlights up asap.
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
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