Michigan defense still embracing 'no-star' mentality, but Kris Jenkins is primed to become one

The Michigan Wolverines football defense lost three top-50 NFL Draft picks after the 2021 season, and as a result decided to embrace being a “no-star” group. But the 2022 campaign saw plenty of Wolverines break out, including EDGE Mike Morris, cornerback DJ Turner, linebacker Junior Colson, nose tackle Mazi Smith and others.

Senior defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, junior safety Rod Moore, graduate nickel back Mike Sainristil, sophomore cornerback Will Johnson and others are next in line to become stars. Besides Johnson, there may not be a more sure bet than picking Jenkins to establish himself as one. However, the group still carries the same mentality.

“Absolutely. 100 percent. We really embrace that, because we function as one unit,” Jenkins said. “We work as a cohesive unit. We don’t function without the other person, and everybody is really embodying that. 

“We just love seeing each other eat, we love seeing each other be successful. As spring ball continues, as the season continues, you’re really going to see a lot more of that on the field. We’re excited to work with each other and play with each other.”

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Jenkins is becoming a top leader on the defense, along with Sainristil. His energy and enthusiasm isn’t always wanted during 6 a.m. workouts, but it’s needed, and ultimately appreciated.

“I try to bring that type of energy every single day,” Jenkins said. “Some can say I’m hyped up, some can say I’m crazy, but I just try to bring that excitement, bring that juice.”

Despite flying a bit under the radar in 2022, Jenkins still ranked fifth on the Michigan defense with 54 tackles, adding 3.5 stops for loss, 2 sacks and 2 quarterback hurries. He’s more sure of himself than he’s been during his time at Michigan, bulked up to 300 pounds (he has his sights set on getting up to 310, if he can still move the way he wants to) … and all the while, his smile is becoming wider and his already loud voice louder.

“This year, I’m starting to feel like I have a newfound level of confidence, which I really love and enjoy, as well as that experience helping me be able to trust the process, because I’ve been here before,” Jenkins said. “It’s definitely given me confidence. I want to continue to trend at one of my goals, which is being a leader on and off the field. That’s one of the main things I’m going to continue to work on as the season progresses.”

Michigan strength coach Ben Herbert nicknamed him “The Mutant” because of his combination of strength and speed at for his size. Add his enthusiasm and love for the game into the mix, and Michigan could be looking at its next All-Big Ten defensive lineman.

“I guess you could say, my passion,” Jenkins said when asked what sets him apart from others. “I haven’t really put too much thought into it, but I guess my passion and my strength set me apart a little bit. My energy, from play after play, I try to bring that same enthusiasm and energy and try to hype the other guys up.

“Besides that, I don’t want to hype myself up too much, because there’s still a lot that I have to work on, but like most people say, my strength, my energy, my passion.”

Inside Kris Jenkins’ ‘glow up’

Jenkins, who stands 6-foot-3, entered the Michigan program weighing 265 pounds. Asked if he saw a side-by-side photo of himself in high school and the person he’s turned into, Jenkins said the contrast would be apparent.

“Y’all definitely would say the glow up is insane,” Jenkins said with a laugh. “I was definitely a lot skinnier. My arms were probably half the size that they are now, and especially when it came to my leg strength and my back strength.

“Honestly, I think I’m looking like a completely different person. That just goes to show the amount of how seriously Coach Herb and the strength staff take everything and improving us physically, as well as the nutritionists. They’ve really created this monster.”

Jenkins’ father, Kris, played 10 years in the NFL, after starring at Maryland and being picked in the second round of the draft. Kris Sr.’s older brother, Cullen Jenkins, was also an NFL defensive lineman. Michigan’s senior always had an inkling he’d be able to put on weight, but he never knew it’d come this fast.

“I mean, I knew with my dad and my uncle, with as big of guys they are, I knew that would come at some point, but I didn’t know it was coming as quickly as it has now,” Jenkins explained. “Some of my high school coaches could agree, because they never thought I’d be 300 pounds. The last time they saw me … they reached out to me over Twitter and they were like, ‘Jesus Christ, what happened?’”

“It’s crazy. We got bigger. That’s where all these stretch marks come from.”

The work continues going forward.

“We’re going to continue to work at it in order to add as much good weight as possible, as the summer cycle progresses,” the Michigan lineman stated.