Miami used their 1st 4th round pick, #104 to take OLB Jelani Jenkins out of Florida. Athletic and agile with good balance and slips blocks and flows to the ball carrier. Good closing speed and can drop into zones, run with running backs and tight ends and can make plays on the ball. He lacks ideal size and durability has been an issue for him while at Florida.
What he brings: Jenkins is an ideal weakside linebacker who holds up well in space and excels in coverage. He has a great feel for throwing lanes and does a great job of reading quarterbacks' eyes. He also shows ideal range against the run. However, he has issues taking on and shedding blocks. In addition, Jenkins has had trouble staying healthy, and those durability concerns likely pushed him into the third round.
How he fits: The Dolphins have made a nice transition from a 3-4 scheme to a 4-3, and they really want versatility to play a lot of sub packages. They are decent right now with their OLB starters, but their depth isn't good enough. They don?t have enough developmental guys, and where Jenkins could likely make his early mark is in those sub packages, especially versus the pass. That is a real strength of his, and that's not necessarily the case for the guys ahead of him.
Slightly shorter than ideal with a linear frame. Did not play at combine listed weight of 243 pounds. Has toothpicks for legs. Arm length (32.2) and hand span (9.3) are right on the average for OLBs attending the last five NFL combines. Timed top-end speed is right around average but appears faster on film.
Durability
4
In 2011, missed Vanderbilt game due to injury. In 2012, missed four games due to multiple injuries (hamstring, foot and thumb). Played with a cast for a portion of the season. Is undersized and needs to improve bulk, strength, and flexibility to hold up better physically in the NFL.
Intangibles
1
Earned a spot on 2010 SEC Academic Honor Roll. Good student. Intelligent young man both on and off the field. A standout sprinter in high school track. Also flew to Los Angeles as one of five national finalists for the Watkins Award, awarded annually to the 'Premier African-American Male Scholar Athlete'. Son of Maurice Jenkins and Stephanie Hall. Maurice is a successful architect in Washington DC and Stephanie played basketball at Howard and is a black belt in karate.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER SPECIFIC TRAITS
Instincts/Recognition
3
Can be a quarter count late diagnosing run. Takes too many false steps vs. misdirection. Has very good natural cover instincts. Does an adequate job reacting to routes but diagnoses quicker when he can read QBs eyes and react.
Take-on Skills
4
Aggressive and tough. Not a soft player, despite trying to avoid too many blocks. Will fire through gaps and attack lead blockers aggressively when he decides to do so. But knows physical limitations in a phone booth, as he loses too many point-of-attack battles due to below-average size/strength. Tries to slip too many blocks and winds up leaving scheme vulnerable too often. Will occasionally take on blocks with the wrong shoulder, also leading to gap-assignment breakdowns. Bottom line: to take game to next level he must improve strength and master the art of taking on blocks and sifting through trash.
Range vs. Run
1
Need to study 2011 tape to see his true speed and range. When healthy, shows very good quickness, burst and lateral agility. Great effort. Flies around the field. Will pursue from the backside. Has very good straight-line speed and closing burst for the position. Frequently slips through creases and disrupts or makes plays in backfield.
Tackling
3
Closes quickly and makes some impressive hog-tie type tackles. Does not shy away from contact. Will attack bigger ball carriers head on. Is tough and aggressive. But needs to be a bit more efficient in this department. Too high at point of attack too often and falls off of too many attempted tackles, as a result. Also leaves feet too early at times. Occasionally will lead with shoulder and fail to wrap up. Also takes too many poor angles.
3rd Down Capabilities
1
One of the most naturally fluid and athletic cover linebackers in this class. Decisive in coverage. Quick feet. Very good body control and balance. Fluid hips. Very good burst out of pedal and straight-line speed. He can match up on-on-one versus most almost all RBs and most TEs. Is physical enough when necessary underneath and does a solid job of rerouting receivers. But shows good overall feel for space and leverage in zone coverage. Ball skills are average at best. Better in coverage than as a pass rusher but does flash burst and adequate instincts when sent on blitz. Goes all out but needs to develop counter move when reached. Gets washed easily.
As five-star outside linebacker recruit, Jenkins was first-team all-state in Maryland. Highly sought after, Jenkins chose Florida over Notre Dame, Penn State, USC and Stanford. Jenkins was named the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year in both 2007 and 2008. As a senior, he traveled to Los Angeles as one of five national finalists for the Watkins Award, awarded annually to the “Premier African-American Male Scholar Athlete”.
Jenkins took a redshirt in his first year in 2009, as he only appeared in two games and made just two tackles. In 2010, Jenkins appeared in all 13 games, and registered 11 starts. He spent time at middle linebacker and weak-side linebacker. On the season, he totaled 76 tackles (4.5 for loss), two sacks, and one interception. In 2011, Jenkins started 12 games (he missed one due to injury). He recorded 75 tackles (6 for loss), two sacks, six pass breakups, and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown. Jenkins dealt with injuries his redshirt junior season, which limited him to just nine games. His medical issues included a lingering tweaked hamstring, and surgeries on his right foot and hand. Jenkins had 29 tackles (5 for loss), two sacks, one interception, and one punt block.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Showcases good speed, moves well from sideline to sideline. Good burst. Athletic. Works well in pursit, able to track ball carriers and then make tackles. Possessing good blitzing ability. Best trait is his ability to cover. Can run with backs and tight ends. Easily flips hips, and turns his head to find the football.
WEAKNESSES
Does not possess ideal size or length. Not very strong at the point. Will get latched onto blockers when the get inside his frame. Needs to use his hands better and be more aggressive in shedding blocks. Medical concerns.
NFL COMPARISON
Nick Roach
BOTTOM LINE
When healthy, Jenkins is a dynamic athlete who possesses great value with his ability to cover. However, he's had a hard time staying healthy, and struggles when run at.
(from Cleveland) The Dolphins stay in-state to find their potential starter at weakside linebacker. Jenkins is one of the better coverage 'backers in this class.
SCOUTING ANALYSIS
Jenkins fits as a potential starting weakside linebacker, even if he is a tad shorter than ideal. He close to the football in a hurry, runs well and had plus quickness to the point of attack.
Jenkins plays with high energy and effort, flying to the ball with reckless abandon. He improved his play recognition in 2012, trusting his eyes and allowing instincts to take hold. He shows little, if any hesitation in reads and is quick to follow run flow. He can close and fill running lanes to meet ball carriers at or behind the line of scrimmage.
Unlike most weakside linebackers, Jenkins is not allergic to contact with blockers. He initiates contact. Jenkins struggles when runs are directed his way, potentially limiting him to a role in which he attacks from the backside with his closing speed. He could play an inside in a 3-4 defense, but he must improve his hand usage at the point of attack.
Jenkins is an excellent open-field tackler, showing the burst and wrap technique to finish tackles on the perimeter. In coverage, Jenkins has closing burst to break and get his hands on the football, but doesn't direct routes with much physicality or contact. He gives too much space to receivers, making it difficult to drive and break up the throw.
The biggest concern teams have with Jenkins is his lack of durability and injury history. He struggles with hamstring tweaks, missed four 2012 games with a broken thumb and the final game with a broken right foot.
Because of his inability to stay healthy, Jenkins will slide into the fifth round. — Alex Brown, Optimum Scouting
Jenkins is extremely quick and maintains that quickness throughout a play. He is very physical and will fight until the end of the play. He goes sideline to sideline extremely well and can cover a lot of ground in zone coverage. He has the speed and explosive burst to recover if he loses a step in separation. He is a strong and fundamentally sound tackler.
NEGATIVES
Jenkins needs to improve his playing strength so that he can take on and shed blocks more consistently. He needs to improve his play vs blockers if he is going to be productive against the inside run. While he can cover very well in zone coverage, I feel he needs to improve his hip turn if he is going to be a high end man coverage linebacker. Having missed time in numerous games due to injury and Florida's bowl game due to a broken bone, Jenkins ability to be a durable NFL player is a major question mark.
ANALYSIS
Jenkins is a versatile LB who would be best in a 4-3 defense as an OLB, but could also play in a 3-4 scheme as an ILB. He has the ability to get moving at the snap quickly and explode to the ball extremely well. He tackles very well, will hit you hard and is a very physical football player. He is extremely competitive and you will always see him fighting to make a play on the football. His m/m coverage skills could improve as I feel he needs to become better at turning his hips so that he can react quicker to the receiver's routes. He is very good in the zone as he has the quickness to react well to plays and he does not over pursue on any plays as he is very patient. Overall, Jenkins physical skill, ability to makes plays against the run in pursuit and strong coverage skills warrant a second round pick, but if he comes out early for the 2013 NFL Draft he will likely slide lower than that. His struggles staying healthy will likely lead to him being a third round pick at best, which is why I believe he should stay in school another season.
Jenkins battled a hamstring issue and broken hand this past season, which impacted his playing time, therefore production. Still, this kid is a very good linebacker who’s athletic and fast. He can run and chase plays down. He’s better at that then when things come his way.
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Miami traded one of their 4th, 5th and 7th round picks to get back into the 3rd round to Green Bay and took CB Will Davis of Utah State. Davis has nice size at 5'11 1/4. 186 lbs. Excellent man cover corner and is very fluid, athletic and flexible. Effortless pedal and transition with speed to run deep. Very good ball skills and hand quickness. The Combine top performer in the 3 cone drill with a 6.52. The biggest issue for Will is he needs to get stronger to deal with bigger wide receivers.
What he brings: Davis shows quick feet and flashes playmaking instincts. However, he can be overaggressive and will gamble, and lacks the elite instincts to recover when caught out of position. Davis can also struggle to turn and locate the ball when caught in trail position. However, he has upside with his athleticism and instincts, and can potentially add depth to a secondary.
How he fits: This was not a good cover group a year ago, and they lost solid veterans in Bryan McCann and Shawn Smith, but they did pick up an elite CB in free agency in Brent Grimes. By adding two corners already, they have a better chance to play their aggressive man-to-man schemes. That allows them to blitz and take more chances, and they can now put a pretty good sub package on the field, which is a must against spread offenses like New England's.
OVERALL FOOTBALL TRAITS
Production
3
2008-'09: Western Washington but DNP. 2010: De Anza Junior College (CA) 38-8-8 2011: Utah State (13/5) 35-6-0 2012: (13/13) 64-17-5
Height-Weight-Speed
3
Good top-end speed. Possesses prototypical height and cut but a bit lean. Adequate arm length (31.4) and hand span (9).
Durability
3
Suffered an elbow injury during training camp of the 2011 season and limited his play earlier on in the year.
Intangibles
3
All-WAC Academic in 2011. Played just one year of high school football. Originally enrolled at Western Washington but program was cut during his redshirt freshman year. No off-the-field issues that we are currently aware of.
CORNERBACK SPECIFIC TRAITS
Instincts/Recognition
3
Inconsistent in this area. On one hand flashes ability to read routes, anticipate and jump underneath throws. However, will gamble and lacks discipline at times. Vulnerable to double moves. In zone coverage can get aggressive and get caught out of position at times. Needs to learn how to maintain strong position in zone coverage without tipping his cap to opposing quarterbacks. Shows good diagnostic skills vs. the run.
Cover Skills
3
Movement skills are average-to-slightly below average. Changes directions well laterally and shows ability to turn and run with receivers downfield when aligned in press. However, has some tightness in hips and ankles. Can labor to open hips when having to make a sudden 180 degree turn in off man. Did not show ability to recover against double move. Also needs to take a few extra steps when gathering at the top of his pedal or zone bail. Will round off breaks on occasion. Closing burst breaking forward is good but lacks a second gear to recover when caught in trail. Appears best suited for a heavy zone scheme and may have issues holding up in man coverage on an island at the NFL level.
Ball Skills
3
Adequate in this area. Flashes anticipation to get a quick break on the ball. Aggressive playing the ball. Had an interception in five straight games to end the 2012 regular season but was not consistent playmaker throughout career. Hands are good but will have an occasional drop. Inconsistent turning and locating the ball in a timely manner when back is turned to quarterback.
Run Support
4
Willing in this area when hand is forced but does not appear to welcome contact. Picks and chooses his battles. Works to get off blocks but can struggle against more physical receivers. Wrap-and-drag down tackler. Needs to learn to tackle with better pad level. Also needs to continue to improve strength in this area.
avis only played one year of football at Central Valley (Wash.) High School, logging seven interceptions, while also tallying 33 tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He also played wide receiver, making 16 catches for 135 yards and four touchdowns. Davis also earned three letters in basketball and four in track. Davis was an honorable mention all-league honoree and team MVP as a senior in basketball and was a two-year starter.
After high school, Davis originally enrolled to play football at Western Washington, but the program was cut during his redshirt-freshman season. Davis then went to De Anza College, and earned first-team all-Golden Gate Conference and first-team all-state honors after posting eight interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.
In 2011, Davis transferred to Utah State, where he played in all 13 games and logged five starts. He recorded 35 tackles (3.5 for loss) and six passes defended. In his senior year, Davis played in 13 games and recorded 64 tackles (4.5 for loss), 17 pass breakups, and five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). He was named first-team All-WAC.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Tall end/linebacker hybrid with excellent length. Definitely not contact-shy, extends his long arms to land a strong punch on blockers, can disengage to chase plays from behind or grab ballcarriers coming into his area. Also willing to mix it up when challenged. Long strides allow him to cover ground quickly when closing or after his strong get-off with his hand down, but also shows enough bend and short-area quickness to avoid linemen. Lines up against slot receivers and tight ends, managing to stay with them in the open field in spite of his size. Flashes quickness and bend to beat tackles around the corner, can counter with an inside rush or spin move. Also quick enough to flatten down the line to make plays on inside runs. Willing to stick his shoulder into a lead blocker to free up other defenders.
WEAKNESSES
Limited football experience. Could stand to add more weight and strength. Overaggressive nature. Susceptible to getting beat by double moves. Lacks the recovery speed to catch up to a receiver that has run by him. Has issues with beating blocks from the receiver. Will lower his head and give sub-par tackling efforts.
NFL COMPARISON
Alterraun Verner
BOTTOM LINE
Davis has good length, foot quickness, and ball skills for the position. Although his recovery speed is a question, he's a fluid athlete with good hips who can make plays on the football. Davis can be beaten deep when he gets overaggressive, but he has more successes than failures in this department. Davis should be a middle-round selection.
(from San Francisco through Green Bay) The Dolphins were attracted to Davis' burst and ability to make plays on the ball. He could be used as a slot cover man to complement fellow draftee Jamar Taylor, an outside starter.
SCOUTING ANALYSIS
Davis is athletic, play faster than he times and has a slender build and good height. He has great hip flex to turn and run with receivers after their breaks. He makes his biggest impact in coverage because his hands are always around the ball.
Davis shows great ability to track the pass with great timing to go battle a receiver in the red zone or down the sideline. He is a willing tackler but must refine his fundamentals and not lunge when coming up in run support or on a receiver crossing the field. His upper body strength isn't great but has the feet and athleticism to play press coverage.
Davis isn't a project but isn't a finished product either. He must show he can play better versus the run.— Chad Dinkins, Optimum Scouting
Davis is a very smooth athlete with the quick feet to help him plant and drive on the ball. He shows the loose hips that allow him to turn and run with receivers down field. Once the ball is in the air he shows the skills to track and attack the ball at its highest point. He has a nice frame and does a nice job of being physical when in tight man coverage
NEGATIVES
Will is a bit slender and needs to add weight to continue to be physical with receivers at the snap. Although he runs well he lacks the elite speed to play catch up if a receiver gets behind him. He is limited by his lack of experience and can be beat easily on double moves because he will play too aggressive at times. Needs to improve technique especially tackling
ANALYSIS
Will Davis took a roundabout way to Utah St after his original school, Western Washington drop its program and he detoured to a Junior College. After transferring to Utah St., Davis instantly made the quick transition and made an impact on defense including 5 starts. Athletically he is very good, but raw. He has a nice back pedal and the agility to match up against most receivers. He has good speed but lacks a burst that would be needed to recover if beat. Overall Will Davis is worth a 4th round pick and could develop into a starter at the NFL level. At worst he could play the nickel and add quality depth for just about any defense.
Davis had a big 2012 campaign with five interceptions and 24 pass breakups. He has shown he can play in man coverage. Davis can change directions and a quick burst. He has enough speed to run with receivers.
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Miami used their 1st 4th round pick, #104 to take OLB Jelani Jenkins out of Florida. Athletic and agile with good balance and slips blocks and flows to the ball carrier. Good closing speed and can drop into zones, run with running backs and tight ends and can make plays on the ball. He lacks ideal size and durability has been an issue for him while at Florida.
Miami traded one of their 4th, 5th and 7th round picks to get back into the 3rd round to Green Bay and took CB Will Davis of Utah State. Davis has nice size at 5'11 1/4. 186 lbs. Excellent man cover corner and is very fluid, athletic and flexible. Effortless pedal and transition with speed to run deep. Very good ball skills and hand quickness. The Combine top performer in the 3 cone drill with a 6.52. The biggest issue for Will is he needs to get stronger to deal with bigger wide receivers.
