By Dennis Dodd
CBS SportsLine Senior Writer
Sept. 12, 1998
PROVO, Utah -- As long as it's all the national rage to gab about sinners in high places, include Ronney Jenkins in your star report.
Before single-handedly
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This is not a portrait of a bad guy, mind you. What Jenkins did is more or less a national pastime among single consenting college students at the nation's institutions of higher learning. Unfortunately at BYU, it is considered an impeachable offense.
The 1996 WAC freshman of the year spent a year out of school, reapplied for admission and was eventually accepted back by coach LaVell Edwards. Ironically, one of the teams that recruited him hardest during that lost 1997 was Arizona State.
The No. 14 Sun Devils (0-2) should have tried harder. Their 26-6 loss to BYU (1-1) might have launched Jenkins' Heisman candidacy and destroyed the Sun Devils' season at the same time.
"Honestly," Jenkins said after rushing for a career-high 171 yards, "I think I'm the best back in the country."
Why not? At this stage the list of Heisman hopefuls is almost as long as the real Starr Report. It's easy at this point to place Jenkins in place of Arizona State's all-purpose everything J.R. Redmond, who was held to 62 yards on 22 touches.
IF YOU WANT THE LURID DETAILS, let's talk about wrecks -- as in the several Jenkins caused at Cougar Stadium. 1) He produced 214 all-purpose yards and scored a touchdown in helping BYU upset Arizona State for the second consecutive season. 2) The loss marked the first time since 1979 the Sun Devils opened with two losses. 3) Gone is Arizona State's national championship before September is halfway gone.
Meanwhile, BYU (1-1) began to resurrect itself as a national force before playing Washington next week. The result made about as much sense as the rest of the day in college football. Syracuse, North Carolina State and Michigan State all beat ranked or higher-ranked opponents.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, the Cougars are evolving into a playing style they have abhorred all these years. BYU can actually run and play defense, adopting the formula that works for the typical top 25 power. Now it works in the thin air of Provo where quarterback Kevin Feterik was able to complete only 6 of 20 passes. No problem. Freshman sensation Junior Mahe backed up Jenkins with 56 yards. The Cougars outrushed Arizona State 214-22.
The defense sacked Ryan Kealy three times and allowed Redmond only 28 yards. When was the last time you heard a coach praise BYU's defense?
"They are physical and they can hit," Arizona State Coach Bill Snyder said. "This (BYU) defense is probably a better defense than Washington."
Once Jenkins was cut loose last year he considered leaving BYU. USC and Arizona State came calling stronger than they had in high school. The Port Hueneme, Calif., native was chided by friends when he turned down the nearby Trojans and returned to the scene of his "crime."
"RIGHT AT FIRST, HE WASN'T SURE," Edwards said. "Then after he thought about it, he came to me and said, 'Coach I'm not going anywhere. I want to come back.'
"He took a lot of guff from his friends at home. He told me he wanted to finish something that he started. As long as he stays healthy, he's going to be one of the premier running backs in the country."
During his freshman season in 1996, Jenkins shared time with starter Brian McKenzie but still managed to become the WAC freshman of the year with 733 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder is so fast his 4.2-something time in the 40 makes up for his lack of size.
"I'm so hungry," Jenkins said. "Right now my confidence is so high. It was just so low last week and now I'm so pumped up."
Cramps in the Alabama heat forced Jenkins to the sidelines for much of a 38-31 loss to the Crimson Tide. He carried only six times. Given 65-degree temperatures and Arizona State's porous defense, Jenkins showed what makes him so effective. He is able to run for tough yards between the tackles and turn the corner, frankly, quicker than any back in the game.
"WHEN WE RECRUITED HIM, his size is a question I wondered about myself," Edwards said. "I wasn't sure he'd be a running back. I knew he'd be somewhere. We didn't have him in the program very long before you realize the guy has some special talents. Before (the great ones) get tackled, they have that little extra burst, that lunge, whatever it is."
Arizona State, the last team to shut out BYU 288 games and 22 years ago, gave up a field goal on the Cougars' first drive. The teams played field
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BYU quarterback Kevin Feterik struggled Saturday, but was saved by Jenkins' performance. (AP)
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With his team leading 16-0 at halftime, Jenkins oversaw the defining drive that killed the Sun Devils' spirit. From his own 27, he began by ripping off a 15-yard run around the right side. Two plays later, Feterik hit him with an 18-yard pass to the Arizona State 39.
FROM THE SUN DEVILS' 29, Jenkins produced consecutive runs of 14 and 13 yards to get to the 2. Naturally, he was given the chance to run it in for a 23-0 lead.
"It was his first game back in Cougar Stadium in two years," Feterik said. "We gave it to him about five, six times in a row. He didn't really get tired. The guy is just a warrior."
Not only a warrior but a warrior with a home.
"Honestly, I didn't want to leave," Jenkins said. "I did wrong. I really can't run away from that."
Unless, of course, he's being chased.
Dennis Dodd is a senior writer in CBS SportsLine's Kansas City bureau.