Mean Green Blog

After the events of the last week or so, I bet UNT football fans could use some good news. And since we are in the public service and information business on the Mean Green Blog, I went and found some.

Just before national signing day earlier this year, I reported on the blog that Pearl River (Miss.) Community College tackle Nate Jenkins had a whole lot of work to do in his final semester and over the summer to become eligible to play next season.

Since this is the time of year that grades come out, I gave Pearl River coach Tim Hatten a call to see how Jenkins was doing. Turns out he did very well in the spring.

"He's got just one class left to take," Hatten said. "He needed 18 hours and passed 15. Some guys when the light at the end of the tunnel gets a little brighter, they get a little more motivated."

Hatten said Jenkins will be done with his junior college classes by the end of June and should be ready to go when UNT opens fall camp. UNT is expected to plug Jenkins, who is huge at 6-4, 335, in at right tackle to replace Adam Venegas.

UNT could use the help after quarterback Giovanni Vizza was beaten in a way that is illegal is most states last year, when the Mean Green’s quarterbacks were sacked 39 times.

"There is no doubt that Nate can help North Texas out," Hatten said. "He could help a lot of teams in the country."

Jenkins is one of two junior college linemen UNT added in its last recruiting class. Gabe Hollivay, a guard from Itawamba (Miss.) Community College, also signed with the Mean Green.

Post your thoughts on the blog. Just how much better will UNT's offensive line be next season if Jenkins can finish up his work in junior college and play for the Mean Green?