Originally posted by OnTheClock:
Looking more into this guy and his history, I've had a big change of opinion on him, and not for the better. He was considered the worst prospect and undraftable by some scouts just a year ago. We'll see what happens at the combine, but I'm not at all convinced of his character to be honest. Talent? Yes. But we all know that's often not enough in this league.
Despite the week at the Senior Bowl, I don't think he's generated any significant amount more hype than the next guy to move himself much more above the plethora of other star-potential prospects who scouts would see as "safer" picks.
I don't see any major off the field stuff. He got bounced from the program by Hoke who was simply a caretaker coach after Butch Jones got canned and Jennings, immaturely to be sure, went on an Instagram rant because he felt that he had been misled about having an opportunity to play, instead Hoke kept him out of games. That whole program was a dumpster fire at the time.
When Pruitt took over, he talked to the staff, the players and other people around that program and then approached Jennings to bring him back.
Tennessee's coach was asked to recall his decision to allow Jennings back on the team soon after his arrival on Rocky Top.
"I asked a lot of people in the building what they thought, most of them that said I wouldn't let him back don't work here anymore. The people that said let him back all work here," Pruitt said on Monday. "When you start talking to the players that play on the team, the Trey Smith's the Daniel Bitiuli's and they say, 'No coach, we want this guy on our team.' I knew enough about those guys in recruiting to know what was right and what was wrong.
"We gave him an opportunity and set out some things that we required him to do and he's done everything that we've asked him to do, everything that we've asked him to do. It goes to show you that when you get second chances, some people make the most of them and Jauan Jennings has made the most of his chance the second time around. He is going to graduate in December, good for him. He has had a great senior year, I know he wants to finish it on a positive note. And he's going to leave his mark on the University of Tennessee – not only as a football player – but as a person, person of character and a leader that has given his all for the University of Tennessee."
Jennings has not only proven to be one of the most consistent players for Tennessee since Pruitt's arrival, but he has also been an invaluable leader for the program this season. When the Vols faced adversity early in the season, it was Jennings that publicly vowed the season was far from over and challenged his teammates on and off the field to continue to fight.
Coming a seven-catch, 174-yard, two touchdown performance against South Carolina, Jennings is playing the best football of his college career and was named co-SEC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. According to Pruitt, that's not surprising given the effort the senior gives every single day for the Vols.
"What a leader, what an ambassador he has been for the university, he is getting his degree," Pruitt added. "Talking about the passion that he plays with, the toughness. I've seen it every day at practice. What you all see on Saturday is what we see every day. We need a team full of Jauans. He has helped shape guys on our football team on how he has how he goes about his business, how he competes, because it's contagious. It's great having him here and I'm thankful I've had the chance to coach him the last few years."
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/tennessee-football/jeremy-pruitt-jauan-jennings-volunteers-decision-return/
Jennings is definitely a bit rough around the edges but he's not Tyreek Hill or some of these dudes that get into serious legal trouble. He showed some bad judgment in dealing with a crappy situation at Tennessee that was not of his making and when given a second chance, he made the most of it.
I don't get the sense at all that he's in anyway a bad guy, just a dude that is probably but definitely a bit too hard and could use some good coaching and veteran leadership in the NFL to help him soften up and play smart while still maintaining his competitive fire on the field.
