Michigan Defensive Lineman Meets Cowboys at Combine, Eyes Mazi Reunion
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Dallas Cowboys tapped into the University of Michigan's stockpile of defensive line talent in the 2023 NFL Draft - and may be interested in returning to the well once more.
Dallas, which selected Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith at No. 26 overall last April, held a formal meeting with Kris Jenkins, another Wolverines defensive lineman, at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.
"It went amazing, in my opinion," Jenkins said of his interview. "It was awesome to meet the coaches, especially after seeing them on TV and watching them."
Michigan defensive lineman Kris Jenkins (94) picks up the trophy to celebrate the Wolverines' 34-13 win over Washington at the national championship game at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.
© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
The 6-3, 299-pound Jenkins, who's nicknamed 'The Mutant,' had a strong performance at the Combine, clocking a 4.91 40-yard dash and 1.70 10-yard split to rank fifth and sixth amongst defensive tackles, respectively.
Jenkins started all 15 games for the national champions, logging 37 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks en route to second-team All-Big Ten honors by the league's coaches. He was also named an Associated Press third-team All-American.
A consensus three-star recruit, Jenkins played in only one game as a freshman in 2020 but has taken snaps in each of the Wolverines' 43 contests over the past three years. He's started all 29 games dating back to the season opener in 2022.
Jenkins' dad, also named Kris, was a 10-year NFL defensive tackle, playing with the Carolina Panthers from 2001 to 2007 and the New York Jets from 2008 to 2010, earning four Pro Bowl's and three All-Pro nods.
The 22-year-old Jenkins is now poised to follow in his father's footsteps - but may also follow Smith from Ann Arbor to Frisco.
Smith and Jenkins started every game next to each other in 2022 after breaking out the year prior.
The Cowboys selected Smith with hopes he'd help solve concerns over the interior defensive line, especially against the run.
His rookie year came and went with little impact, as he logged just 13 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack across 17 games, starting thrice.
But Smith still has time to grow into the player Dallas thought he could become - and Jenkins would enjoy having a front row seat to his former teammate's resurgence.
"Playing with Mazi again, that would be awesome," Jenkins said. "Just getting that matchup back, that would be cool to see."
Jenkins is currently projected as a Day 2 pick and would likely be in play for the Cowboys' second-round selection, which currently sits at No. 56 overall.
The 2024 NFL Draft is set to run from April 25-27 in Detroit ... and the Cowboys may double-dip on defensive line talent near and dear to the local's hearts.
