Jenkins’ Reign of Terror
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New position, same Kydran Jenkins. That’s the hope of the Purdue coaching staff after it moved Jenkins from rush end to inside linebacker.
Jenkins began to make the transition in the winter and has continued the move from the edge of the defense to the middle this spring. Why move a player who was among the best in the Big Ten at his position, a guy who ranked third in the Big Ten in sacks (7.5) and TFLs (15.5) in 2023?
“I think for KJ, he’s an instinctive player, first and foremost,” said Boilermaker defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Kevin Kane. “He became a really big inside linebacker by going where he’s at, whereas he’s kind of an undersized edge guy (6-1, 260).
“Now, all of a sudden, he’s a big-time inside linebacker. He’s instinctive. He has a way of finding the ball already, where he can maneuver around blocks and chase the ball down.”
And by being in the middle of the action, Jenkins will presumably make even more plays, as he’ll be difficult to run away from. But, on passing downs, look for Jenkins to move back out to the edge and reprise his role as a rush end. No one on the roster is a more proven pass rusher than the fifth-year senior from Louisville, Ga.
Jenkins, a consensus honorable mention All-Big Ten selection last year, will be a lynchpin of a defense that has a lot to prove after ranking 12th in total yards in the Big Ten last year (382.1 ypg) and last in scoring (30.4 ppg).
“For us as a team, I think it helps the inside ‘backer room,” said Ryan Walters of moving Jenkins from rush end to inside linebacker. “We don’t have a lot of depth there. And, for him, personally, he was ultra productive as a rush end.”
The move also will give Jenkins a chance to audition for pro scouts at a position–from a physical build standpoint–he’s more suited to play at the next level than defensive end or outside linebacker.
“I think for him to add value at the next level, when he’s out on the edge, he’s a little undersized,” said Walters. “But, as soon as he steps back, he becomes a big, athletic linebacker. I think that was one of the reasons why we were able to retain KJ. … So, I’m excited to see how that room shakes out from a competitive standpoint.”
But with Jenkins now off the edge and Nic Scourton having transferred to Texas A&M, who will bring the heat for Purdue from the rush end spot?
“Obviously, Nic and his production, you’re not gonna replace that one player unless you have a really, really big collective,” said Walters, who saw Scourton lead the Big Ten with 10 sacks last year and rank fourth in TFLs (15).
The staff is counting on the likes of Will Heldt and portal additions Shitta Sillah (Boston College), CJ Madden (Georgia) and Jireh Ojata (Franklin College).
“Will Heldt is a guy we expect from Year One to Year Two to take big steps, ” said Kane. “C.J. Madden’s a guy who transferred from Georgia. Shitta Sillah from Boston College is another guy that has shown some good promise. Those three guys have kind of set themselves apart right now.”
Look for Jenkins to work in concert with fellow inside linebacker Yanni Karlaftis, with both being on the field in short-yardage and running situations.
“And I think between he and Yanni Karlaftis, right now, they’re both playing at an extremely high level,” said Kane. “Those are two guys … you have to deal with, and our job is to get the best players on the field. And how are we going to do that?”
Karlaftis, who also moved positions earlier in his career from linebacker, to end, to linebacker, has liked what he’s seen from Jenkins, who has had to leave practice early this spring on Tuesdays and Thursdays due to a class conflict.
“He brings a lot of athleticism and he’s very good,” said Karlaftis. “He has a really good nose to the ball. So, he brings that.”
