zydecochris
2nd Team Getting Their First Start
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I was reading some Bama boards and they all really like Jennings. Most thought he was their best player on D this year with McKinney and expected him to be a 3rd or 4th round pick, so perhaps not the reach others thought. Most said he was more reliable and productive than Lewis and almost everyone said they would miss his leadership. The consensus was that the reach was Raekwon Davis, who people thought underwhelmed for two years, rather than Jennings or Lewis.
He's not a high ceiling player but is going to be a dependable, team first player, who has a well rounded set of skills. You don't want him in coverage too often and he isn't going to scream off the edge but he can grow into a Ninkovich type - set the edge well, and maybe pick up 6-8 sacks a year. Plus he can kick inside at times on 3rd down.
I like the pick more after doing a little more research. Just seems like a Patriot.
It is possible that his long term athletic potential might be a bit higher than he showed in college. Why? A PCL tear in the 2018 Sugar Bowl National Semifinal against Clemson caused damage to the artery in his left leg and produced a blood clot, and the leg was in very serious danger of having to be amputated. Fortunately for Jennings, doctors were able to diagnose and treat the injury quickly before amputation was necessary. However, this was a very, very serious leg injury, many thought he would never play again.
However, to his credit, less than nine months after nearly losing his left leg, Jennings worked his way back to start all 15 games for Alabama in the 2018 season. The fortitude and determination to overcome that traumatic experience translate to the qualities that made him a valued starter for Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
So: Glass half empty: He had a very, very serious leg injury at the end of the 2017 season that clearly jeopardized his career. That probably caused him to slide down the draft rankings.
Glass half full: It is amazing he battled back from that to be a 3 year starter for Alabama (no small task given the number of talented linebackers they bring in every year), and Saban loves him. I have no evidence for this, but I speculate that perhaps that ultra-sever leg injury still held him back a bit as far as athleticism once he returned. Perhaps with more time for recovery and a professional strength and conditioning program, perhaps his ceiling is more than it appears at first glance. Certainly his toughness and professional maturity are absolutely top rate.
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