Becoming a vocal leader took time for Jordan Jenkins

ATHENS -- Jordan Jenkins entered the locker room the morning of Georgia’s first preseason practice and wasn’t too pleased with a teammate.

With two minutes remaining before the start of a meeting, Jenkins began yelling at a fellow outside linebacker about his time management skills or lack thereof. The tongue-lashing perked up teammate Lorenzo Carter, who noticed from afar that this was a very different Jenkins from the one he has gotten to know.

“He wouldn’t have (done that last year),” Carter said. “He’s stepping out of his comfort zone, and he’s doing it pretty well.”

Jenkins never been very vocal and carried a shy persona growing up. Even after graduating from Harris County as a highly rated recruit, Jenkins preferred to keep his mouth shut and let his play on the field do the talking for him.

Not anymore.

Since defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt arrived, Jenkins was told to assert himself more as a teammate. That has continued even further with the addition of strength and coordinator Mark Hocke. Both coaches have challenged Jenkins to become more of a vocal presence for the defense, with Jenkins doing his part to assume the role.

“That’s something I had to evolve into,” Jenkins said. “I’ve always led by example; I’m always going to work hard. Being vocal, that’s a thing that’s new to me. I always moved around a lot, so I was always the shy guy. Whenever I went to camps, somebody want to cut me in line, fine, I’ll get my work in whenever. It was something foreign to me. I feel I’m embracing it more now.”

This isn’t to say Jenkins was never someone the other outside linebackers could turn to. Being a senior who saw playing time as a true freshman in 2012, other Georgia linebackers have long turned to him when they needed assistance.

“Jordan has always been a leader for the outside linebackers,” Carter said. “He’s just been stepping up, being vocal. Coach Hocke has been making sure guys are stepping up and leading instead of sitting back and letting the coaches lead. Jordan has been one of the main players to step up and lead as a player.”

Defenders at other positions have noticed the change, too. Since sophomore defensive back Dominick Sanders arrived last year, he has noticed a transformation in Jenkins.

“He is a leader by example,” Sanders said. “And there have been times where he got vocal.”

Jenkins knew halfway into last season that he wanted to return for his final season with Georgia. While his emergence as a vocal leader took some time, he knew it was time to step up and help set a standard for the rest of the defense to follow.

“What the leaders want is a defense that people respect and people have to adjust for and a defense that isn’t going to sit there and let you run the ball on us or throw bombs on us all game,” Jenkins said. “If you’re going to play us, you’re going to be in a fight with us until the end.”

This story was originally published August 29, 2015 at 10:59 AM with the headline "Becoming a vocal leader took time for Jordan Jenkins ."