By: Michael Higgins

School: Michigan

Class: Senior

Position: DL

HT: 6’3

WT: 305 lbs

Sideline Prospect Ranking: #32

Background: Kris Jenkins was a 3-star strongside defensive end out of Olney, Maryland. His father played 10 years in the NFL and was an All-Pro four times. Kris was a top 20 prospect in the state of Maryland playing for Our Lady Good Counsel High School. As a senior, Jenkins was WCAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year. He was First Team All-WCAC and First Team All-Met. He led Our Lady Good Counsel to a WCAC championship as a senior. Kris Jenkins committed to Michigan before his senior season of high school, choosing the Wolverines over Maryland, Penn State, and others.

College: As a freshman, Kris only saw action on the defensive line in one game. He was primarily a scout team member and was used on special teams for the back half of the season. Jenkins made 4 starts and appeared in 14 games as a sophomore in 2021. He was a key piece of a Michigan defensive line rotation that dominated the Big 10. In 2022, Jenkins earned Big 10 honorable mention after starting all 14 games at the 3-tech.

Strengths: Kris Jenkins is a dynamic pass rusher from the interior. Not only can he lineup as a 3-tech, he can also kick out to set the edge as a 5-tech. He is strong enough and has enough length to knock back any offensive lineman, no matter the position. He has strong hands that get under the opponent’s pads and allow him to establish leverage. While displaying exceptional strength, he plays with great body control and moves well for his size. He is able to break free of his opponent’s grip to make tackles at or near the line of scrimmage. Jenkins stays active throughout the play. Playing with a high motor, he is more than difficult to stall at the line. As a run defender, Jenkins fills gaps effectively. He can bring any rush to a halt with excellent strength and explosiveness out of his stance.

Weaknesses: Kris Jenkins does not offer a ton of variety in terms of pass rushing moves. He tends to rely on power to win every rep, which will not work in the NFL. While Jenkins is strong, without that bag of moves, double teams can often stop his rush and take him out of the play. In the run game, if he cleanly gets into the backfield, he can occasionally take bad angles to the football or be victimized by a double move.

Conclusion: Kris Jenkins is a freak athlete who provides plenty of versatility along the defensive line. If he is able to polish some of the rough edges of his game, he can turn into a star at the next level.

Scheme Fit: Scheme Versatile

Ideal Role: 3-tech

Best Team Fits: HOU, CLE, SEA

Player Comparison: Brandon Graham

Player Grade: 86.1