Starting running backs are often measured by the number of touchdowns and rushing yards that they accumulate. Analysts will often cite the number of consecutive 100 yard rushing games that a running back has in a season. For Mark Jenkins, junior running back for the Pleasant Grove High Eagles, he has racked up incredible touchdown and rushing yard stats. The Eagles are 10-1 in the Delta River League and are making a playoff run.
At 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, Jenkins has been playing football since he was seven years old and became a varsity starter late in his sophomore year. In the current season, Jenkins has rushed over 100 yards and scored at least one touchdown for each game. He has had four 200 plus yard rushing games and all but one of his games has he tallied at least two touchdown runs. Through eleven games, Jenkins has rushed for 2027 yards at an 8 yards per rush average.
This Eagle can run 4.59 seconds in the 40-yard dash and considers his game to be a blend of former Cal Bears Jahvid Best and Marshawn Lynch. During the offseason, he has attended football camps that have included All American Camp, NUC, and Ultimate 100. He works hard to improve on his speed and stiff arm.
Pleasant Grove High Coach Joe Cattolico says, "Mark is a patient runner with excellent balance and power. He sees the field well and is deceptively difficult to tackle. Mark is a calm and quiet player on the field. We have based our offense around Mark and our offensive line play so far this season. We do have some other players who have been good complements to Mark. Defenses keying on Mark will likely give some of our other players some opportunities to create big plays. Mark is focused and modest off the field. He is a serious student who is working hard in the classroom as well as on the field to give himself the opportunity to play football at the college level."
In a 55-35 win over Roseville High earlier in the season, Jenkins had 34 rushes for 298 yards with eight touchdowns. This performance should go down as one of the highlights in the 2010 Northern California football season as eight touchdowns in one game is impressive at any level. In 1990, Illinois running back Howard Griffith rushed for eight touchdowns against Southern Illinois for the college record. In 1929, Ernie Nevers of the then Chicago Cardinals ran for six touchdowns in one game for the NFL record.
Jenkins says of that performance, "A big part of my eight touchdown game is my fullback and linemen. The line does a great job of getting a push and fullback Mason Hastings is big, physical, and makes running holes. I think Coach just went with what works in this game."
Jenkins has worked hard to put himself in his current position. If he can continue next year with his productivity, colleges will be interested. Surprisingly, no schools have been in contact with him. He has a solid 3.16 GPA and overcame his academic ineligibility during his freshman year.
Jenkins' focus right now is on the football playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, he accounted for 236 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a 48-7 win over Stagg High. It would seem that if Jenkins rushes for over 200 yards and scores at least two rushing touchdowns in a game, the Eagles are assured the victory. Watch for Jenkins in the rest of the playoff postseason for Pleasant Grove High in Elk Grove.
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