Elgton Jenkins has spent his entire football career in Mississippi, first playing for the Clarksdale Wildcats before graduating in 2014 and then the Mississippi State Bulldogs, but he will begin his NFL career in a city he has never seen in person.
With the 44th pick of during the second round of the NFL Draft in Nashville, Tenn., Friday night, the Green Bay Packers selected Jenkins.
Jenkins played different positions on the line as a Bulldog, including center his senior year, but he said he expects to begin as a guard for the Packers and compete for a starting position.
“Everybody has a chance to start,” Jenkins said. “Nobody is given it. You’ve got to earn it.”
Jenkins is looking forward to being teammates with Super Bowl champion quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“It feels good. I’m ready to go and get to work, especially working with Aaron Rodgers,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins said he was most impressed with Rodgers during the 2016 playoffs when he led the Packers to a game-winning drive on the road against the Dallas Cowboys. The Packers won 34-31.
“Everybody around thought Aaron Rodgers was one of the best quarterbacks to play the game,” Jenkins said. “That’s how I feel, too. One of the best quarterbacks to play the game.”
Jenkins was at home with family and friends when Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst called him to let him know he would be drafted. He talked with new Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, scouting directors and offensive line coaches.
“They were just talking about me coming in, me playing, me playing guard and me battling for a position,” Jenkins said.
“It was good being there with my family and friends. I had a feeling I was going to be called Friday, so I was just waiting on the moment.”
Jenkins knew going to the Packers was a possibility, but he thought he may be selected sooner. However, he was very happy with the way things turned out.
“I thought it was going to happen earlier in the draft, but things happen,” he said. “It was the perfect time from God.”
Jenkins also had a chance to talk with Packers offensive tackle David Bakhtiari, who told him, “Let’s get rolling. Let’s get to work and stuff like that.”
The support extended beyond Jenkins’ family as he waited at his home in Clarksdale to be drafted.
Juantavius “J.T.” Gray, a 2014 CHS graduate and former Bulldog, is a safety for the New Orleans Saints and was with his longtime teammate Jenkins as he learned he would be a Packer. Wildcats football coach Henry Johnson, Jenkins’ peewee coach for the Clarksdale Lumberjacks Tyrone Smith, Coahoma County sheriff Charles Jones, Clarksdale mayor Chuck Espy and many others were with Jenkins as he was selected.
“Everybody there was basically telling me stay the person I am and stuff like that,” Jenkins said. “Work hard. This is only the beginning.”
Jenkins was prepared for the call when talking with family and friends.
“I was just sitting there talking to family and friends,” he said. “Once I saw the area code, I knew who it was.”
Jenkins is working out in Starkville and will fly to Green Bay toward the end of the week to see his new home for the first time.
“I’m ready to go down there,” Jenkins said. “I’m ready to meet the coaches, meet the players and things like that. I’m ready to get down there, get the playbook and get the ball rolling.”
Jenkins said he did not know if the Packers playbook would be similar to what he has seen in the past, but he is prepared for anything.
“Football is football,” Jenkins said. “It’s just x’s and o’s. I’m going down there and studying things. I’m done with school, so I’m just putting my mind on that.”
Moving to cold weather will not be a problem.
“It’s not going to be a problem,” Jenkins said. “I like playing in cold weather. Cold games are what offensive linemen play for. It’s going to be phenomenal.”
Jenkins played on competitive teams with the Wildcats and Bulldogs, but he is still seeking his first championship.
“Hopefully, we’ll go to the Super Bowl,” he said. “That feels good. All my life I never won a national title or anything like that.”
While the Saints are not on the Packers schedule, Jenkins said he would like to go against Gray at some point.
“It would be good to see him out there doing his thing,” Jenkins said. “I’m out there doing my thing. It would be good.”
The hometown support in Clarksdale has been there all the way.
“My mom and dad, they’re always talking to me about coming to games and stuff like that,” Jenkins said. “My family and friends will come and see me, too. We’re just waiting on the time.
“I want to thank everybody for all the good luck and congratulations. Go Wildcats and Hail State and go Pack, go.”
