Kydran Jenkins’ attitude on move from rush end to ILB: ‘Let’s do it’
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Kydran Jenkins knows it. He knows his best shot to play in the NFL is at linebacker. That’s why he moved to the position from rush end in the offseason.
“I knew this would be the best opportunity for me to get to the next level and when Coach (Ryan Walters) told me that he wanted to take me to inside linebacker, I was like, I’m all for it,” Jenkins said. “I know I can play it. I played it in high school. Let’s do it.”
So far, so good for the 6-1, 253-pound Jenkins.
The senior enjoyed a break out in 2023, when he teamed with Nic Scouton to become the best pass rushing tandem in the Big Ten. Scouton led the Big Ten with 10 sacks in 2023, while Jenkins was No. 3 with 7.5. And the duo combined for 30.5 TFLs.
“I think the thing with KJ is he is so instinctual as a player,” said rush ends coach Joe Dineen. “He makes the easy play, but he also makes the play that he shouldn’t have made. We’ll go up and watch film after practice, and he’ll be somewhere that he you wouldn’t think he’s going to make the play, and then by the end of it, he’s making a tackle for a two-yard gain. He does things on film that are pretty fun to watch. And he’s kind of like an eraser back there, which I tell my guys: If we can do our job, consistently, that guy’s gonna run sideline to sideline and eliminate mistakes.”
Now, Scourton is gone, transferring to Texas A&M, while Jenkins is at inside linebacker. Despite the switch, Jenkins still be line up often on the edge. He’ll also be deployed as a blitzer from multiple angles.
Don’t expect Purdue’s inside linebackers to remain in the middle just because of their position. Jenkins and Yanni Karlaftis possess the ability to rush off the edge and this defense will utilize that at times.
“I just think he adds a different set of versatility, being able to still go get the quarterback and now play sideline to sideline from the cylinder. You know, the guys feed off of his athleticism and sort of energy he brings. So I’m excited to see what that looks like this fall,” said Walters.
Jenkins will work with Karlaftis as anchors of the interior.
“KJ and Yanni together, they’ve kind of built a bond with each other,” defensive coordinator Kevin Kane said. “Those guys bring a certain intensity and nastiness to our defense.”
There was some fear Jenkins wouldn’t return to Purdue for his final season, that perhaps he would exit via the portal like Scourton. But Jenkins stayed anchored in West Lafayette and is poised to be a cornerstone member of a defense that has a lot to prove in 2024.
“It was a lot after the season, because I didn’t know what I was gonna do,” said. “I didn’t know if I was going to the pros, I didn’t know about staying here, I didn’t know about trying to transfer. But I knew at the end of the day I needed to come back for another year, too, because I wanted to show scouts what I can be on the field. And that would help me get better and get drafted higher in the draft,” said Jenkins.
Another impetus for Jenkins to remain tethered to Purdue?
“I’d say because I’ve been at Purdue four years and I want to graduate,” he said. “I graduate in December so I wanted to get my degree from here. I came a long way, worked hard to get that and my mom knew that I wanted a Purdue degree and I needed it.”
Purdue Top 10 single-season sack leaders
Player, yearSacks1. Rosevelt Colvin, 199815.02. Shaun Phillips, 200314.53. Rosevelt Colvin, 199714.04. Jeff Zgonina, 199213.04. Ryan Kerrigan, 200913.06. Ryan Kerrigan, 201012.57. Jim Schwantz, 198911.07. Akin Ayodele, 199911.09. Anthony Spencer, 200610.510. Nic Scourton, 202310.0
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