“I think now I’ll be remembered among the greats. I don’t know if I’ll be the greatest, but the only other Thorpe Award winner at Ohio State was Antonio Winfield [in 1998], and just to be known and ranked with him is an honor,” Jenkins said by phone from Orlando shortly after taking the stage at the Home Depot College Football Awards show on ESPN.

With his parents, his high school coach and teammate James Laurinaitis by his side, Jenkins felt the nerves as his name was called.

“All the things I worked for and all the things I prayed about were answered,” Jenkins said. “My mom didn’t hear anything I said on stage because she was so busy clapping.”

Jenkins won the award over Eric Berry of Tennessee and Taylor Mays of USC. Laurinaitis was in attendance as a finalist for the Bednarik Award for top defensive player, but that went to Rey Maualuga of USC.

However, both Laurinaitis and Jenkins were named to the Walter Camp All-American first team. Laurinaitis became only the fifth player in 119 years to be named to the first team in three seasons. Left tackle Alex Boone was named to the second team.