When UF's coaching staff told Janoris Jenkins that he would be starting at cornerback opposite Joe Haden, the true freshman had a rather simple reaction.
"I've got to go out and ball," he said. "Just keep ballin' and doing what I do."
Apparently, it was that easy. Jenkins has played in four of the Gators' six games and has started the last three. If there's one thing you can say about him, it's that he doesn't lack in confidence.
"You've got to have confidence," he said. "If you don't have confidence, you don't believe in yourself and what you do.
"To play any position, you need confidence."
Going out to "ball" isn't something he simply wants to do; it's a standard he holds himself to. Like when he intercepted his first pass of his career at Tennessee. Jenkins was deep in the end zone but was running around looking for a lane to take it back for a touchdown.
Safety Major Wright has joked that he was trying to tackle Jenkins after he made that interception. Jenkins answered with a zinger of his own:
"He can't catch me," Jenkins said with a smile.
Jenkins backs up his confidence with a work ethic that rivals anyone on the team. He decided to enroll in the spring rather than wait until the summer, a decision that put him far ahead of the learning curve.
Wright, who had an admirable freshman season himself, said Jenkins is far ahead of where Wright was a year ago.
"When he came in, there wasn't really much you could teach him," Wright said. "He had some things he had to go over, but he's a guy that just goes.
"He catches on pretty quick. He's a quick learner. He's a real smart guy, and I feel like he's coming along."
For all of his talent and work ethic, Jenkins will admit he is a bit surprised with how quickly he has become a starter.
That's not to say he didn't envision himself contributing this season, just that he is even ahead of his own lofty expectations.
"Not starting but getting a lot of playing time," Jenkins said of his preseason expectations.
Jenkins is also continuing a trend of special freshmen being important contributors for the Gators. Quarterback Tim Tebow and receiver Percy Harvin were instrumental in UF's march to a national championship in 2006. Wright started every game as a true freshman a year ago, and now, Jenkins is one piece of a greatly improved secondary.
"I came here to make big plays with the defense," Jenkins said. "I think I'm a good example. I came in during the spring, worked hard, competed and made plays during two-a-days, and it paid off."
HEALTH ON THE HORIZON: The Gators may have earned their biggest victory in two seasons Saturday against LSU, but they're still dealing with what's been a big problem this season: injuries.
Florida appears to be nearing full health, though. Chris Rainey, who suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter Saturday, is expected to play next week.
"Chris Rainey won't have any contact this week, but he'll be fine," coach Urban Meyer said. "It's not an issue."
Emmanuel Moody was expected to be ready to return to the lineup in time for the matchup against Kentucky, but his status appears to be in limbo.
"Emmanuel Moody is a guy that we're pushing," Meyer said. "He's questionable for Kentucky."
Moody sprained his ankle in the Gators' 31-30 loss to Mississippi.
SPEEDSTERS GALORE: Urban Meyer seems to have finally achieved his goal of having the fastest team in America.
After weeks of watching the offense sputter, the 51 points Florida scored against LSU were the most ever against a defending national champion. And a lot of the credit must go to UF speedsters Percy Harvin, Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey, who broke several big plays.
"The game's changed a little bit," Meyer said. "We believe in space, we believe in speed and we believe in big plays."
