Scouting the 2021 NFL Draft: Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

Teven Jenkins scouting report

Oklahoma State offensive tackle Teven Jenkins enters the 2021 NFL draft as a player on the rise who has the potential to be one of the first offensive linemen drafted this April.

Jenkins joined the Cowboys program after earning a three-star grade as a high school recruit at Topeka High School in Topeka, Kansas. He received six scholarship offers and chose Oklahoma State over schools like Missouri, Illinois, Kansas State, and Louisville. Jenkins was a three-sport athlete in high school who played basketball and baseball in addition to his time on the gridiron.

Jenkins made an immediate impact at Oklahoma State. He’s started 35 games during his career, with 33 of those starts coming in the last three seasons. He opted out of the 2020 season after the eighth game of the year because of lower-back issues. Without more information about his back condition (if there is one), we won’t weigh it in this evaluation. If he slides in the draft, it’s likely because of medical concerns.

Physically, Jenkins is a chunky 6-6, 315 pounds. His mid-section is soft and a little sloppy but he moves well despite his undefined frame. He’s exceptionally strong — his hands are incredibly powerful. His base is powerful and the jolt he creates on contact is noteworthy. His arm length is a concern; he has interior-lineman arms.

Athletically, Jenkins is a surprisingly good mover for his body-type. His feet are light and nimble and he has little trouble keeping up with speed rushers both around the edge and on quick-hitting inside counters. His footwork is clean and efficient and he has little trouble reaching second-level defenders in the run game.

In pass protection, Jenkins packs a powerful punch that stuns oncoming rushers and stops them in their tracks. His hands lock-in and he drives the bus until the play is dead. His kick-slide is quick and efficient and his ability to mirror defenders is fantastic. He’s flexible, plays with good bend, and stays balanced rep after rep. While he primarily lined up at right tackle for Oklahoma State, he has enough athletic ability to play on the left side in the NFL. He’ll have to prove his arm length isn’t a fatal shortcoming.

In the run game, Jenkins has the potential to be a mauler on the next level because of the tenacity he plays with. He latches onto defenders and drives them into the ground. If he could drive them through the ground, he would. There are countless reps on tape of Jenkins humiliating defenders in a powerful and dominant fashion. He profiles as an offensive lineman who has more than enough power to thrive in a power-running scheme, but his athleticism suggests he’ll be just fine in a zone scheme that requires more space play. His coordination and high-level understanding of his assignments are big factors in his ability to finish in space.

Overall, Jenkins is a first-round talent who will start right away as a rookie. His NFL career should begin as a tackle in an effort to determine if his physical makeup — arm length — can succeed on the edge. If he struggles against longer NFL defensive ends and outside linebackers, he should have little trouble kicking inside and being a long-time starter at guard. Bottom line? Draft Jenkins, plug him into your starting lineup and don’t worry about him for the next 10 years.

GRADE: 8.0 (first round)

Bryan Perez

Bryan is the founder of Pro Football Draft. His work has been featured on The Draft Network, NBC Sports and USA Today. Former CFL scout.

Follow him on Twitter: @BryanPerezNFL