DJ Jenkins Credits Gridiron Football For DI Commitment With The Rice Owls

Gridiron Football’s motto is “To Change One Life is To Change A Community”, and throughout the years, Gridiron Football has helped thousands of high school football players achieve their dream. One of the most recent examples of players that have achieved success through the program is Pope John Paul II High School (Slidell, LA) DE DJ Jenkins, who earlier this week, announced on social media that he will be committing to play college football at Rice University.

“The coaching staff is great and they welcomed me with open arms. I love the standard they set over there and Rice is a great school, and I will have many opportunities outside of football because of where they are.”

Pope John Paul II High School DE and Rice commit DJ Jenkins

At 6’4, 225 pounds, Jenkins is long, rangy, and can affect the passing game not only by rushing the passer with his long strides, but also knocking down or affecting passes with his long arms along with his 80.5″ wing span. Jenkins’ length and athleticism has

“The coaching staff is giving me the opportunity to showcase my talents as far as pass rush, run stopping, and dropping into coverage. They have compared me to Lawrence Taylor and Micah Parsons.”

Pope John Paul II High School DE and Rice commit DJ Jenkins

Rice was one of a few DI schools to recognize Jenkins’ upside as a football player as other DI schools such as Lafayette, Grambling, Central Arkansas, and Central Florida have offered him prior to Rice.

Jenkins was able to showcase his skills often on Gridiron Football’s platform coming to two Elite Camps and excelling with strong performances at Northshore High School as a junior and Covington High School as a senior. There, he learned and picked up a lot of skills that have helped him evolve as a player.

“I learned new techniques and different ways of using my length at the camps.”

Pope John Paul II High School DE and Rice commit DJ Jenkins

He took those skills to having a 1st Team All-District and All-Parish season with 112 tackles, 8 sacks, 19 QB hurries, 12 TFLs, 3 PBUs, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 defensive touchdown for Salmen.

For his senior season, the former Spartan became a Pope John Paul II Jaguar and all he did was lead the team to one of their best seasons yet with nine victories throughout the 2024 year. Jenkins played a big role on the defensive side of the football with 72 tackles, 7 sacks, 16 TFLs, 12 QB hurries, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 forced fumble.

“It was great playing for them and they welcomed me in with open arms and treated me like family.”

Pope John Paul II High School DE and Rice commit DJ Jenkins
Pope John Paul II High School DE DJ Jenkins

After a great prep career, DJ Jenkins decided to play his final high school football game with the Gridiron Football All-American Bowl Game. The year prior, Jenkins decided to go to the practices in order to get a feel of what it would be like to play in the game as a senior.

“It helped me mentally prepare for how long the practices were going to be.”

Pope John Paul II High School DE and Rice commit DJ Jenkins
Team Tigers Defensive MVP DJ Jenkins (middle) with Marcus Randall (left) and Andy Bryson (right) (Photo taken by Jason Saucier)

Having the extra year mentally to prepare for the Gridiron Football All-American Bowl Game paid off with Jenkins having a Defensive MVP performance for the Tigers highlighted by the game clinching sack to give his team a 19-13 victory over the Lions.

“It was definitely a top ten moment for me, but during that moment, I was telling myself big time players make big time plays so it wasn’t anything new because I made plays plenty of times before.”

Pope John Paul II High School DE and Rice commit DJ Jenkins

When committing to Rice, Jenkins was asked about all of the people that have helped guide him to the position he is in today.

“First, I want to thank God for putting me in the position I am in and I want to thank my support system, which is my mom, dad, sisters, and Coach Young for pushing me this far, and my Pope John Paul family.”

Pope John Paul II High School DE and Rice commit DJ Jenkins

Jenkins also thanked Gridiron Football for giving him the exposure and the lessons that have allowed him to sign at the Division I level.

“I really want to thank Gridiron Football. I got to showcase my talents and develop not just as a player, but socially as well when it comes down to interviews or talking to others in this profession.”

Pope John Paul II High School DE and Rice commit DJ Jenkins
Pope John Paul II DE DJ Jenkins (8) puts pressure on Escambia High School QB Nino Freeman during the 2024 Gridiron Football All-American Bowl Game. (Photo taken by Billy Metcalf)

DJ Jenkins is one of the many Gridiron Football All-Americans from this year’s bowl game that will be signing on Wednesday for National Signing Day, but what has stood out about DJ specifically is that he has been constantly involved with the organization in terms of camps, media exposure, and of course, the bowl game. For somebody that has been through the program in all its aspects, he has advice to younger players that are looking to get their name out there through Gridiron.

“Make sure you stay to your faith because God always makes a way. Make sure your grades are staying up to part and don’t compare yourself to others’ success. Your time will come. You just have to be patient.”

Pope John Paul II High School DE and Rice commit DJ Jenkins

Patience, perseverance, and talent has allowed DJ Jenkins the opportunity to play at the DI level and from there, he is focused on the goals ahead, which is to make Rice fans proud.

“They’ll be getting a great person and player that will impact this program very soon! I want to be a freshman All-American, continue to be an All-American at my time there, continue to make big strides in my game, and go to the Senior Bowl!”

Pope John Paul II High School DE and Rice commit DJ Jenkins
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