Michael Jenkins (running back) facts for kids

Michael Jenkins is a former professional football player. He was a talented running back from Bethesda, Maryland. Michael played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for several teams. He was born on August 27, 1976.

Before becoming a pro, Jenkins played college football. He attended the University of Wyoming and later the University of Arkansas.

Early Football Days

Michael Jenkins started his football journey in high school. He played at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, California. After high school, he continued to play for two seasons at Coffeyville Junior College.

Playing for Wyoming

In 1997, Michael Jenkins played for the University of Wyoming. He had a great year, running for 605 yards. He also scored 10 touchdowns, which was the most on his team. Michael was also good at catching the ball. He caught 25 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns.

Time at Arkansas University

After Wyoming, Jenkins moved to the University of Arkansas. He took a "redshirt" year in 1998, which means he practiced with the team but didn't play in games. This allowed him to gain more experience.

In 1999, Michael played for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He ran for 224 yards and scored three touchdowns that season. One of his most exciting plays was a 42-yard touchdown run. This happened in the 2000 Cotton Bowl Classic, helping Arkansas beat the Texas Longhorns 27–6.

Professional Football Career

Michael Jenkins had a successful career in the Canadian Football League. He played for the Toronto Argonauts, Houston Texans, Montreal Alouettes, and Edmonton Eskimos.

Joining the Toronto Argonauts

In 2000, Jenkins joined the Toronto Argonauts as a new player. In his first year, he played in all 18 games. He ran for an impressive 1,050 yards and scored two touchdowns. He also caught passes for 400 yards. Because of his great performance, he was named the team's rookie of the year. Fans often compared him to his coach, Pinball Clemons, who was also a star running back.

In 2001, Jenkins had an amazing season. He set a new Argonauts team record for most rushing yards in a season. He ran for 1,484 yards on 271 carries and scored 8 touchdowns. He also had 361 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. His coach, Pinball Clemons, made sure the team used both running and passing plays to help Michael shine. Jenkins won the 2001 John Candy Memorial Award for being the Toronto Argonauts' player of the year.

Moving to the NFL and Back

In 2002, Jenkins left the Argonauts to try playing in the National Football League (NFL). He signed with the Houston Texans. He spent that season on the team's practice squad.

He returned to the Toronto Argonauts in 2003. However, he faced some challenges. He had gained weight and was dealing with injuries, including a groin injury and recurring ankle problems. Despite these issues, he still had a standout game on August 17, 2003. He rushed for 195 yards against the Edmonton Eskimos, earning the CFL Offensive Player of the Week Award. For the season, he rushed for 814 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also had 316 receiving yards. After the season, he had surgery on his injured ankles.

Injury and Return to Play

On May 17, 2004, the Argonauts released Jenkins. He then focused on recovering from his ankle injuries.

Playing for the Montreal Alouettes

On February 18, 2005, Jenkins signed with the Montreal Alouettes. He spent some time on the practice squad and injured list. He was released by the Alouettes in July of that year.

Winning with the Edmonton Eskimos

On August 22, 2005, Jenkins signed with the Edmonton Eskimos. He played in one game on September 9, 2005, against the Calgary Stampeders. In that game, he ran for 30 yards and caught one pass for 11 yards.

Later that year, Michael Jenkins and the Eskimos won the Grey Cup championship. This was a big achievement in his career. He finished his CFL career with a total of 3,378 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. He also had 1,077 receiving yards.