Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
For Immediate Release: February 9, 2009

Sen. Debbe Leftwich and 2008 Jim Thorpe Award winner Malcolm Jenkins.
Senate Honors 2008 Jim Thorpe Award Winner
Malcolm Jenkins
2008 Jim Thorpe Award winner Malcolm Jenkins was
honored on the floor of the state Senate on Monday. The Senate
unanimously approved Senate Resolution 3, recognizing and commending
the standout defensive back from Ohio State University.
As a junior, Jenkins was selected first-team Pro
Football Weekly All-American, first team All-Big Ten, second team
Walter Camp All-American, and a Thorpe semi-finalist. He recorded
47 tackles during the season. He was selected as defensive player
of the week and won the Arnie Chonko Award for Outstanding Defensive
Back.
As a senior, Jenkins was Captain of the Ohio State
University Buckeyes and won the 2008 Jim Thorpe Award, presented
to the nation’s best college defensive back. He also was
selected to the American Football Coaches’ Association (AFCA)
All-American Team, the Walter Camp All-American First Team and
the Big Ten Conference First Team.
“Malcolm Jenkins has been an outstanding
college football player, who has displayed exemplary leadership
abilities throughout his career,” said Leftwich, D-Oklahoma
City. “He’s a very deserving recipient of the Thorpe
Award, and will go on to have a fine professional career. More
importantly, he’s distinguished himself as a fine all-around
student athlete.
Jenkins was a four-year letterman for the Buckeyes.
In addition to his accomplishments as an upper classman, Jenkins
started all 13 games as a sophomore and was a first-team All-Big
Ten performer.
“Jenkins performed on an elite level as an
athlete, and also deserves recognition for his efforts in the
classroom,” Leftwich said. “He’s an excellent
football player, and an even better person.”