The Next Level: U.Va.'s Jenkins fares well in loss
Week 10 of the college football season was a welcomed respite for a number of schools around the country, but plenty of former Baltimore-area high school football standouts still posted noteworthy efforts.
Over the previous seven weeks of running this season’s edition of The Next Level, we are pleased to report that no player has repeated as the Next Level Player of the Week. Virginia defensive tackle Nick Jenkins (Good Counsel) continued that trend with a strong performance in Saturday’s game despite the Cavaliers’ 55-48 loss at Duke. Jenkins, a Westminster native, recorded four tackles, recovered a fumble by Duke running back Desmond Scott in the fourth quarter and sacked quarterback Sean Renfree on the Blue Devils’ next possession to secure his first Next Level honor of the season.
• Also in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Maryland sophomore defensive lineman A.J. Francis (Severn native, Gonzaga graduate) made three tackles in the Terrapins’ 26-20 loss at Miami. Freshman linebacker David Mackall (Edmondson) registered two tackles for a loss and freshman defensive back Matt Robinson (Atholton) made two stops of his own. Last week’s Player of the Week, senior wide receiver LaQuan Williams (Poly), assisted on one tackle on special teams coverage and was targeted twice by quarterback Danny O’Brien, but failed to make a catch.
• Wake Forest redshirt sophomore linebacker Joey Ehrmann (Gilman) intercepted his first pass of the season and assisted on three tackles in the Demon Deacons’ 23-13 loss to Boston College. Freshman cornerback Kevin Johnson (River Hill) made five tackles, two solo, and redshirt freshman Michael Campanaro (River Hill) returned one kickoff 19 yards for Wake.
• Junior linebacker Zach Brown (Wilde Lake) registered four tackles, including three solo stops in North Carolina’s 37-35 victory over Florida State.
• Virginia Tech freshman cornerback Kyle Fuller (Mount St. Joseph) made five tackles and broke up a pass in Thursday’s 28-21 win against Georgia Tech.
• Syracuse sophomore receiver Alec Lemon (Arundel) hauled in five catches for 73 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Nassib in a 28-20 loss to Louisville.
• Senior linebacker Jerry Hauburger (Eastern Tech) recorded six tackles in Navy’s 76-35 rout of East Carolina. Pirates freshman defensive lineman Derrel Johnson (Cardinal Gibbons) assisted on five tackles in the loss.
• Baltimore native Matt Brown rushed for 20 yards on four carries in Temple’s 28-10 victory over Kent State. Brown – a graduate of the Peddie School (N.J.) – also caught one pass for a 1-yard gain. Senior defensive back Kwame Johnson (Parkville) and junior offensive lineman Pat Boyle (Calvert Hall) both received playing time for the Owls, but did not record any statistics.
• Central Michigan freshman defensive back Leron Eaddy (River Hill) assisted on two tackles in a 26-22 win against Western Michigan.
• Junior defensive back Darron Edwards (Dunbar) made one tackle in the Red Wolves’ 51-24 romp of Middle Tennessee State.
• Army senior fullback Jacob Bohn (Mount St. Joseph) rushed for an 18-yard touchdown run on his only carry in Saturday’s 42-22 loss to Air Force.
• Utah senior Shaky Smithson (Douglass) finished with 158 all-purpose yards in the Utes’ 47-7 loss to Texas Christian. Smithson made one 9-yard reception, returned six kickoffs for 139 yards and returned one punt 10 yards.
• New Mexico sophomore defensive back Emmanuel McPhearson (Columbia native, DeMatha graduate) returned five kickoffs for 120 yards in the Lobos’ 34-31 victory over Wyoming.
• Remember, this list only focuses on natives of Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County and Howard County who appear on NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision rosters. Feel free to post updates in the comment section below on any other player form the state of Maryland.
Mike Miller is an intern at The Baltimore Sun. He will be providing updates each Monday for Recruiting Report on former local high school football standouts who now play for FBS schools. Mike can be reached at xcxmmiller@baltsun.com.
