More News

Click here for slideshow

The Gators had the right bait.

Standing in front of family, friends, teammates and ESPNU cameras, Good Counsel senior linebacker Jelani Jenkins made his much-anticipated college plan known Wednesday, selecting the University of Florida.

"I'm definitely excited," Jenkins said. "I still have to work really hard to make a mark at Florida. I'm really excited to play for a top coach like Urban Meyer."

Jenkins added that he and his family drew up a list of 15 criteria he wanted his chosen college to meet, and Florida ticked all 15 boxes.

The 2008 Gazette Player of the Year, Jenkins chose the defending national champion Gators over a host of other suitors. Jenkins said Wednesday the other schools in his top five were Penn State, Southern California, Notre Dame and Stanford, and that the final decision was between Penn State and Florida.

Jenkins made his announcement live on television network ESPNU. After announcing, his whole family pulled out Florida hats from under the table and put them on. Word leaked early to some, however; while waiting for the cameras to turn on, Good Counsel students present did the Gator chomp.

"I just felt comfortable there," Jenkins said. "I'm not stressing any more. Right now, I'm looking full-force to college, but the work doesn't stop. I'm glad people aren't asking me all the time, ‘Where you going?' ‘Where you going?'"

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Jenkins was a three-year starter at both fullback and linebacker for the Falcons, who reached the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference final all three seasons. This fall, Jenkins produced 25 total touchdowns and 644 yards offensively while also making 59 tackles, including 7 � for losses, on the defensive side.

That all-around play garnered the hard-hitting, fleet-footed two-way starter the following honors: Parade All-American; Touchdown Club of Columbus (Ohio) National High School Defensive Player of the Year; Pigskin Club award; and the 2008 Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year.

He was recently named to the 2008 EA Sports All-American Football team and is a two-time consensus All-State selection. Jenkins, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds, also earned 2007 Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year honors when he had 792 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns and 58 tackles.

Four other key members of Good Counsel's football Class of 2009 signed Wednesday, two with Division I-A programs.

Tailback Caleb Porzel, who rushed for 1,152 yards and scored 19 total touchdowns, is headed to the University of Maryland. Defensive back Mike Wallace (four interceptions) chose Penn State. Both made their verbal commitments earlier in the recruiting period, and made their decisions official Wednesday.

Kicker/punter Mark Hamilton (60 for 62 on PATs) will compete for Villanova (Pa.) of the Colonial Athletic Association. Two-way lineman Devin Gordon-Hamm made a late commitment to Bucknell (Pa.) of the Patriot League, and signed Wednesday. Both schools are in the NCAA's Division I-AA.