Ex-coach gives high marks to 49ers’ top pick Jenkins
Murphy: Hey, Ron, we appreciate you coming on to tell us about A.J. Jenkins. First and foremost, how was he as a college player for you? Zook: Well, he’s a great, great person. He’s one of those guys that just comes to work. He doesn’t talk a lot. He’s not one of those guys who has to be the center of attention — he’ll just go to work, and he’ll be a great player for the San Francisco 49ers.
Murphy: For you, is his most Zook: Well, I’ll tell you — he’s got great hands. When you shake his hand, he’s got some big hands. But he can do stuff after the catch, and I think that’s the thing as a receiver. First of all, he runs great routes, he’s got great speed, but then he catches the football and he can do stuff with it afterwards. The one thing he’s got to work on — he’s a tough kid, don’t get me wrong, but I always want him to be a grasseater and go knock people out. But he’ll block and do the things you want him to do, and he’ll get better at that. dominant attribute just his speed, or am I missing something else? Murphy: The size issue is something that people worry about in the NFL, with hits as big as they are now. Is that something to keep an eye on for A.J.? Zook: No, I don’t think it will be a problem. He’s 190 pounds, and like I said he’s a tough kid. He lost a little bit of strength when he had a wrist problem last winter and he couldn’t lift quite the way you wanted him to lift, and then he broke his jaw. … But he’ll be fine. The physicality of the