2025 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Jamari Jenkins, TE/WR, University of Dubuque

• Name: Jamari Jenkins
• Position: TE/WR
• College: University of Dubuque
• Height: 6’2”
• Weight: 230 lbs
• X (Twitter): @jamarijenkins26

What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?

I’d say growing up and always watching football on Saturdays and Sundays is what fueled me to become a football player. I was around football since a little baby and I honestly can say this is something I was born to do. The excitement and joy that football always brought me helped me to choose football as the priority sport in my life, there’s no better feeling in the world.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

There’s a lot of moments but the ones I’ll never forget are the ones with my teammates and growing with them on and off the field. Being able to build a brotherhood that I’ll never forget, the chemistry that was created on the field at every level of football I’ve played makes a huge difference in how well the team will succeed and I believe that I was able to capitalize on that. on the field, I’ll say being able to grow my game and see how much change I’ve made to be able to compete with anybody in the world, being able to cut on the tape and show my skillset against the best is something I can never forget.

What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?

I’m looking for an opportunity to be a difference maker at the next level, being able to take on a role that nobody else wants to take on and become a difference maker for whoever needs one. I’m honestly just looking for a chance to show off my skill set and dominate against whoever’s in front of me. I know my own skill set and I just want to be able to show it off in front of coaches. All I need is one shot and I can’t wait for that opportunity!

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day, who and why?

I’d probably go with Julio Jones or Shannon Sharpe, two of my favorite players in all of football. Julio was always my favorite player growing up, just watching him play, the way he was so dominant was always exciting. Shannon Sharpe is because I feel that I resemble a lot of the way I play after him, being able to be such a big target against any matchup but being able to get into the trenches and be able to block the big guys.

Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?

My mom and grandfather for sure, my mom has been through so much adversity and has always kept a good head on her shoulders, pushing me to always be my best no matter the circumstances, she’s always there to pick me up whenever I’m feeling down in life, I owe her the world. Then my grandfather because he’s the first father I actually had, I never knew my biological father growing up and he took me in like I was his own, all he knew was being a girl dad and he took me in and we’ve grown to become a rock for each other to lean on, I also owe him the world.

What is your favorite offensive scheme and why?

Shanahan, being able to get the run game heavily involved and then working the play action off of it to get the defense distracted to get open shots behind them. It offers a lot of complexity while being so simple, the eye candy is so confusing to a defense that they don’t know what hits them and then it’s too late. I feel like the lions have been able to capitalize with the various pieces they have to help excel it.

What should we know about Jamari Jenkins the person?

He’s confident, respectful, caring, a brother. He’s a guy that will do whatever it takes until to get things done. I’m going to always be there for whoever needs me to keep them standing and fighting. Whenever I feel like something’s out there that is mine for the taking, I’m gonna always go and get it no matter who or what stands in my way. Overall, I’m just a guy that wants to succeed and watch the people around me grow and succeed as well.

What stands out about your film the most?

When you turn on the tape, you’re going to see a guy that understands football a lot more than people might think and you’re also going to be watching an unorthodox tight end. Somebody that doesn’t move like your average tight end, able to win any matchup lined up in front of me. everything’s a mismatch to me and the tape shows it.

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

I like to know and understand that my trust in God will always help me overcome anything. So I tend to just let stuff flow away from my mind and just breath, coach Maiuri this year helped me understand a lot that things happen all the time and everything won’t always be great and go my way. He always told us “flex and flow,” and that’s something I’ve felt helped me a lot with any challenges I’ve faced this year.

What would a team get in a player like you?

An overall team player, somebody that just wants to see the team win. A guy that’ll make any and every sacrifice for the greater good of the team. Also, a guy that’ll come to work every day ready to compete with the best man or the bottom man, continuously trying to improve my own skill set while also helping my brother get better everyday.

What do you love the most about the game of football?

The atmosphere of college football, on any given Saturday anybody can win and the emotions that everybody that’s fully invested has, is a feeling that only competitors can have. To have all of that flowing through your blood on game day is something that I’ll forever cherish. As well as the feeling of when you know all the hard work from the off-season is paying off, when you can see it showing up on tape, there’s no feeling like it.

Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with and why?

Man by the name of Hunter Preston, nobody knows the amount of work he puts in and this year he was one of our biggest pieces to a successful offense. That’s my brother for real, he brought me in to college and welcomed me and we’ve been close ever since. But this year he’s had his best year that I’ve ever been apart of and I’m glad I get to call him my brother.