Brian Kelly delivers direct message to Jaray Jenkins on leadership

Whenever there is turnover on a coaching staff, it’s important to have veteran players buy into the new coaching staff. It helps to get the entire team on the same page and makes it easier for the new staff to implement a new culture. With decades of experience as a head coach, Brian Kelly knows this as well as anyone.

In the midst of a quarterback battle and coaching turnover at LSU, Brian Kelly knows that he needs leaders to step on the offense. That’s where redshirt senior wide receiver Jaray Jenkins comes into play, an important figure on LSU’s offense who Kelly has a direct message for.

“I wish he would take more of a leadership role,” Brian Kelly said.

“You’re hearing me, Jaray? Can he hear me? He’ll hear me, won’t he? He will. Ok, I think you will,” Brian Kelly jokingly pretended to speak directly to Jenkins.

“You know, we need that leadership and it comes from consistency. Will he hear that too? I think so, yeah. So, that’s what we’re looking for–what we saw today, consistency every single day. Being the same guy. He’s a great kid. We just need that every single day. If we can get that from him every day that room’s going to be in really good shape,” Brian Kelly concluded.

During Brian Kelly’s comments, his tone seemed to shift back and forth between a bit of a joke and being fairly serious. However, the message is clear and he wants Jaray Jenkins to hear it. By being consistent, he can be a great leader for LSU.

Jaray Jenkins was a consensus three-star recruit in the Class of 2018. During his time in Baton Rouge, he has been surrounded by great wide receivers and was a part of a national championship-winning team. He had to work his way onto the field, seeing more and more of a role in the offense in recent seasons. For his career, Jaray Jenkins has 62 receptions and eight touchdowns.