Jenkins leads Bulldogs defenders with 5.5 tackles for loss

Vanderbilt quarterback Johnny McCrary (2) is sacked by Georgia linebacker Jordan Jenkins (59) for a 7-yard loss in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in Nashville.
Vanderbilt quarterback Johnny McCrary (2) is sacked by Georgia linebacker Jordan Jenkins (59) for a 7-yard loss in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in Nashville.

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McKenzie notches fourth career special-teams score Jenkins leads Bulldogs defenders with 5.5 tackles for loss Georgia overcomes more weirdness in Nashville Georgia shakes off slow start, beats Vanderbilt 31-14

NASHVILLE - On the third play from scrimmage in Georgia's 31-14 win over Vanderbilt on Saturday afternoon, Commodores tailback Ralph Webb was stuffed for a 3-yard loss on third-and-3 by Georgia outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins.

Jenkins was just getting started.

In the best statistical performance of his college career, the 6-foot-3, 253-pound senior from Hamilton, Ga., made 11 tackles and a staggering 5.5 tackles for loss. He had nine tackles and four tackles for loss in the first half, when the Bulldogs held the Commodores to 159 yards.

"That was definitely one of my favorite games, and I definitely feel the effects," a smiling Jenkins said afterward. "My body is sore, and I am ready to go back and get in that cold tub. My body is tired."

Two of his tackles for loss were sacks.

Jenkins is the Southeastern Conference's active leader with 35.5 tackles for loss and 18 sacks. He is also now in the top five in Georgia history in career tackles for loss, trailing the heralded likes of David Pollack (58.5), Quentin Moses (44.5), Jarvis Jones (44) and Justin Houston (38).

"He just played with such a great edge," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said. "When Jordan decided to come back for his senior season, it was something he felt very strongly about. He felt like he just had to get better and that there were some things he could improve on.

"That's what I like about him. He's a guy who doesn't think he hung the moon by any stretch, and he came back, worked his tail off and has been playing excellent ball."

Jenkins was a team captain for each of Georgia's first two games, and Richt doesn't see the need to change that following Saturday's showing.

"He's a really good football player, and that's just what he does," senior inside linebacker Jake Ganus said. "I'm glad he was able to do that, and I hope he does that every game."

Said Jenkins: "I just did what my coaches told me to do and stuck to the game plan. I didn't try to focus on making plays. I did my job, and the plays came to me."

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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