Report: Former Bulldog linebacker Jordan Jenkins could start for Jets

Jordan Jenkins may not have to wait too long to get a taste of NFL action.

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Rich Cimini of ESPN recently reported on a number of Jets-related topics, and one nugget of information included in his story is that Jenkins got first-team reps during organized team activities (OTAs) last week.

Cimini speculated that Jenkins could end up replacing Calvin Pace, who was mostly unproductive last season. If Jenkins can earn the starting job full-time by the beginning of the season, then he’ll join impressive company.

The Jets drafted linebacker Mo Lewis out of Georgia in the 1991 NFL Draft and he started in the team’s first game of the 1991 season, which was a 16-13 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Lewis was selected in the third round of the draft (63rd overall). Jenkins was also taken in the third round but 20 spots later at 83rd. Lewis wound up being one of the Jets’ best linebackers of all time, so the organization’s got a good history when it comes to picking linebackers who previously played for the Bulldogs.

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Jenkins’ presumable hard work during OTAs is probably what got him into position to win a starting job, but he’s been a dependable force since his freshman year in Athens.

Though Jenkins played alongside highly-coveted players such as Lorenzo Carter and Leonard Floyd throughout his career, he was arguably Georgia’s best linebacker during his tenure. In four seasons with the Bulldogs, Jenkins racked up 204 total tackles – 107 of which were solo – including 39 for loss. Jenkins recorded 19 sacks and forced six fumbles.

A groin injury hampered Jenkins during his senior year, causing his production to decrease a bit. He still tallied 58 tackles and four sacks, though.

Jenkins turned heads in voluntary OTAs, which concluded for the Jets last Thursday, but he’s still got to make it through mini camp and training camp before the starting job will be set in stone. New York’s mandatory minicamp begins tomorrow and runs through Thursday, with training camp scheduled for later in the summer.

Judging by a recent tweet, Jenkins is ready to fight for the starting job:

The Jets begin the 2016 regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 11. Bulldog fans hope to see the Hamilton, Georgia, native on the field helping New York’s defense.