Jacob Jenkins: Earning One More Go Around

Note: Below is the main feature story for this home football game's edition of Flames Illustrated, Liberty's home football game day program.

For Liberty redshirt senior Jacob Jenkins, the road to the Mountain is one that is now becoming all too familiar in the world of football and collegiate athletics in general.

Liberty is the third and final stop in the tight end's six-year collegiate career. One of five players on Liberty's roster who have played six seasons of football, he is also one of seven Flames who are making their third appearance on a different collegiate roster.

Although his journey started at Jacksonville State (2020 and 2021) and took him to Coastal Carolina in 2022, Jenkins is trying to focus on where he is presently and what is ahead of him and his teammates entering the 2025 season.

"I'm excited. I am trying to be present where my feet are right now," stated Jenkins at the beginning of August Training Camp. "I'm just taking it day by day, whether that is spending more time with a younger guy or being a more vocal leader. I'm looking forward to what the season is going to bring."

For Jenkins, part of being a vocal leader this season is helping live out the team's theme for the 2025 campaign.

Shortly after the Flames ended 2024 with a loss to Buffalo in the Bahamas Bowl and an 8-4 overall record, now third-year head coach Jamey Chadwell stated the team needed to learn it had to "Earn" the respect that led to a Conference USA title the previous season.

Jenkins, a native of Hoover, Ala., has had to earn the right to get back on the field many times during his extended career. He has accepted that challenge time and time again, allowing him to play a team-leading 1,195 career snaps of football.

During his time at Jacksonville State, Jenkins played behind some veteran players that saw him have to accept his role as a reserve tight end and member of the special teams units. He saw playing time in 19 games, which included a run to the FCS Playoff quarterfinals in 2020 for the Gamecocks. However, he only hauled in six receptions.

At Coastal Carolina in 2022, Jenkins earned a starting role, only to battle injuries that limited his effectiveness. He played in 11 games, earning All-Sun Belt third team honors, but was limited to 11 receptions for 149 yards.

When Jenkins followed Chadwell to Lynchburg in 2023, the tight end was denied the opportunity to play right away due to an NCAA transfer rule that now no longer exists.

Rather than complain about his circumstances, Jenkins chose to faithfully support his new fellow teammates from the sidelines, as Liberty made a magical run with a 12-0 undefeated regular season and a victory over New Mexico State in the 2023 CUSA Football Championship.

Jenkins' devotion to his role was rewarded when he earned the opportunity to play in the most significant game in Liberty Football program history. He was granted the chance to play during No. 23 Liberty's match-up against No. 8 Oregon in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on January 1, 2024, albeit for only 10 snaps.

The Flames' first-ever New Year's Six bowl game was a springboard into a new future for the tight end – one that he has earned with patience.

Last year, Jenkins played in all 12 games and started four contests while sharing the role with veteran Flames tight end Bentley Hanshaw. He averaged 9.9 yards per reception in 2024 and recorded two touchdowns.

The past five seasons have prepared Jenkins for his final go-around – one that has him as the leader of the tight end room.

"I have always been right there during my entire career; it has always been me and an older guy," reflected Jenkins. "Last year, it was me and Bentley, and at Jacksonville State, it was me and another tight end. This is my last year, and I have stepped into this new role. I know I need to be present and focus on what I am doing right now, so when we come to play Maine in week one, I will have put a lot into the bank and I can pull that out when I need it this season."

Jenkins knows this year's Flames need to have a different mindset, following a season where they finished in fourth place in Conference USA and saw 17 players sit out of the bowl game.

The coaching staff and players have worked nearly as hard off the field building a close-knit group as they have on the practice field preparing for the season – one they hope earns them a repeat trip to the Conference USA Championship game.

"The guys are just excited to play ball together this year," Jenkins enthusiastically commented about the season. "I think that is something that we lacked last year."

"I think we are all on the same page this year. The coaching staff has done a great job of laying out our goals, letting us know where we are going, and we all know the expectations."

Off the field, Jenkins has already earned his undergraduate degree in business administration, and he is currently pursuing his MBA in real estate development.

Entering his final season on the Mountain, Jenkins has already earned some preseason accolades. He was named to the Conference USA Preseason Player Watch List and was named a 2025 HERP Sports Preseason Group of Five All-America third-team selection.

Although the personal accolades are nice, Jenkins hopes one of the last things he gets to earn in his collegiate playing career is one more shot at a conference title – a game he could actually play in this year.

"We enter the season with our heads down, trying our best to meet the expectations set forth by our coaching staff," said Jenkins. "This has brought a lot of excitement and competition to training camp, and we are looking forward to the season ahead."

Schedule

Jacob Jenkins: Earning One More Go Around

Players Mentioned

Bentley Hanshaw

Jacob Jenkins