Dallas trades up, takes Southeast's Jenkins at No. 25
Jenkins had crossed Dallas off the board once the Cowboys acquired controversial cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones. Now that he's a member of the tradition-rich franchise, which won 13 games and the NFC East title last year, he couldn't be happier -- especially since he'll be reunited with USF teammate Anthony Henry.
"My first thought was playoffs -- I know we're going to the playoffs, and we're gonna have a Super Bowl run," Jenkins said. "Pacman Jones, I know he's got a lot of incidents off the field, but I know he's a good player, and I heard he's a great guy in practice.
"It's going to be good for me to go up there and learn from those guys. . . . I think I'm pretty much in a good place."
Not lost on Jenkins was the history of the moment -- in 11 years, USF never had a first-round draft pick before Saturday. The Bulls' highest pick prior to Jenkins was Kawika Mitchell, taken by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft.
"I'm hoping someone can come in next year and just keep it going. We have a lot great talent on our team," he said. "We came up pretty fast, doing a lot of great things. There's a lot of great athletes still out there on our team."
Southeast coach Paul Maechtle, who has coached two first-round picks -- Peter Warrick was the other -- said Jenkins' ability to tackle as well as cover made him a rare commodity.
"It's his strikeability," Maechtle said. "I'm excited for him and his family."
Gray remembers when her son first put on a football uniform at the age of 6. There he was Saturday, readying himself for a career in the NFL.
"He advanced on to high school, he advanced on to college -- and to get there is a big accomplishment," she said. "I have been looking forward to this day."
Gray was wearing her son's USF jersey Saturday. Now, she plans on switching her allegiance to the Dallas Cowboys.
"Oh, yeah," she said. "Believe it."
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