Baldwin’s Jenkins excels in return to field after knee injury

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 15, 2017 | 11:00 PM

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Jeremy Jenkins is a multi-talented three-sport athlete at Baldwin, competing in football, basketball and track.

He was the Fighting Highlanders’ starting quarterback and played in the nickel package on defense last season until suffering a torn ACL and meniscus in Week 4 in a conference game against West Allegheny.

Jenkins (5-9, 160) missed the rest of the football season and the entire basketball season recovering from the injury.

“Jeremy was a projected starter; he was pretty devastated,” said Joe Urmann, Baldwin’s boys basketball coach. “He was still a part of the team all season, and has worked on his game and his athleticism in the offseason. He could be poised for breakout year as a senior.”

Jenkins, a sharp-shooting senior guard, competed in summer league action with his Baldwin teammates, and was focused on playing basketball in the 2017-18 winter season.

But his competitiveness and determination finally drew him back to the football field, thanks in part to a one-on-one discussion he had late in the school year with Loran Cooley, Baldwin’s first-year football coach.

“I wasn’t really planning on playing (football) this season because I was nervous about playing and getting hurt again,” Jenkins said. “I was going into my senior year of high school, and I wanted to make the best decision for myself.

“Coach Cooley spoke to me about this year being a change and how that I can’t live my life in fear, because not fearing the future will open more opportunities that may expand my path to happiness.”

Cooley, a Pennsylvania state trooper, has had an extensive coaching background after a four-year career as a wide receiver at Duquesne. He formerly was the offensive coordinator at Clairton, assistant head coach/offensive coordinator at Plum, and wide receiver coach/pass game coordinator at Gateway.

His coaching staff at Baldwin consists of Chris Reilsono (assistant head coach/running backs), Mauro Monz (offensive coordinator), Darrin Walls (defensive coordinator/linebackers), Greg McGhee (quarterbacks), Arthur Beck (wide receivers), Lambert Strayer (offensive line), Matt Davis (defensive line), Dayonne Nunley (defensive backs), Andrew Baker (ninth grade coach) and Thomas Simcho (ninth grade coach).

“The transition with the new coaching staff has been great,” Jenkins said. “Coach Cooley and all the coaches really know how to carry a team. When I decided to come back, the staff and I bonded really fast. They’re a bunch of very well-taught guys that have had the opportunity to play on the next level, and just to have an opportunity to be coached by them is awesome.”

Jenkins, 17, quickly made his presence felt on the gridiron as a catalyst on defense this season. He is a starter in the secondary, along with junior Andrejs Howell and sophomores Naseer Penn and Jarren Kelly, and ranks among the team leaders in tackles. Jenkins posted 11 solo tackles in two games.

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“Jeremy has completely bought in to what we are trying to build at Baldwin,” Cooley said. “He is a very instinctive player; his strength is his competitiveness. The kid works extremely hard and just loves to compete.”

Jenkins also has seen playing time at quarterback this season. Against Hampton, he lofted a picture-perfect 37-yard touchdown pass to Howell, who was motoring down the left sideline.

“My goal is to stay healthy and do my assignments correctly, do what I can to contribute to help the team win,” Jenkins said. “We’re a young team and we don’t have all the size like a lot of other teams, but the one thing we do have is heart. I believe we could be a good team as long as we play as one. We’ve been working on a lot of new things. Every day is a grind, and every day we learn something new.

“It’s not about my expectations, it’s about the team’s expectations. Everyone of us has to be on the same page. We work together, fight and grind together. We’re a family. We have a goal of being great, (and) our expectations this year are higher than they have ever been. We strive for greatness every day.”

Baldwin’s starting lineup is filled with underclassmen; Jenkins is one of nine seniors on the varsity team roster.

The Fighting Highlanders opened the season with conferences losses to Woodland Hills and Hampton. The Talbots won 10-9 via a last-second field goal.

“No matter what our outcome is this year, we’re a family,” Jenkins said. “Win or lose, we keep our heads held high and we continue to have a positive mindset. The physicality and heart that we have this year is special. We don’t play for ourselves, we play together.

“I’ve learned that if you have one stick in your hand and you try to break it, it’ll easily break. But if you have a bundle of sticks together and you try to break them, you won’t be able to. Playing together is everything in the game of football, and in every sport. No matter what the outcome, after every play you keep your head up and you show a positive attitude.”

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Baldwin