Yesterday we got the news that Glenn Sharpe got his medical redshirt and would head back to The U in 2007. Today we can add senior WR Darnell Jenkins to that mix.
Jenkins was injured early in 2006 and missed the majority of last season. Some thought the new regime would send the senior wide out to the NFL a year early, but Jenkins will bring his skills back to Miami for one more year.
I’ve seen mixed results regarding Jenkins’ return and I don’t get it. The Canes are weak at receiver. Make no mistake about it. Lance Leggett has been up, down and all around the few years he’s been on the roster and senior Ryan Moore was suspended the majority of last year and if headed to the NFL come April. Freshman Sam Shields was a pleasant surprise his inaugural season, but one ‘pretty good’ season doesn’t ensure success over the next few years. Leggett has a strong freshman campaign and then fell completely off the map, so Shields has his work cut out for him entering 2007.
Jenkins brings leadership to the table and he’s the Canes most experienced receiver. That in itself is reason enough for excitement. He has that vintage Canes attitude, which is great for a first year kid like Kayne Farquharson, who’s already talked about wanting to pick the brains of past/current Hurricanes receivers.
Here’s hoping Jenkins can be this season’s Andre King circa 2000. Not the most talented or best receiver in the history of Miami Football, but a little bit older, wiser and more mature than the young bucks on this squad. For a program which has struggled at wide out since 2002, these Canes need all the help they can get and having #8 back in the fold is definitely a plus.
.:Canes305:.