Adrien Jenkins and other Southeast alumni shine on college level

Sometimes you have to do things that make you feel uncomfortable.

It’s particularly tough when you have a resume filled with blank spaces due to some personal mishaps.

But Adrien Jenkins took that risk and it paid huge dividends when he ran for a collegiate career record 168 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 carries in sparking the University of Charleston to a 49-35 victory over Seton Hill last Saturday.

In Charleston’s previous game, the Southeast High product did not touch the ball. He went to the coaches and asked them to give him more of a role in the offense.

“I didn’t demand the ball. I don’t like to do that. I just asked for a bigger role than just blocking,” Jenkins said. “I felt like I could be a playmaker and if they didn’t want me in that role I wanted to go to defense. Fortunately they gave me the opportunity. I felt like my old self again, the one that played for Southeast.”

Jenkins 14 yard per carry average was impressive. The junior had touchdown runs of 52 and 26 yards, which were the two longest of the game for Charleston.

Another Southeast product, defensive back Kieron James, is having a solid year for FCS Western Illinois. The junior is fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference with five passes defended and leads the Leathernecks with 1.5 sacks, four pass breakups and four deflections, and has 17 tackles.

Receiver Charles Chestnut and offensive lineman Enock Presendieu, also from Southeast, have made key contributions to WIU.

Kieron James saves win for WIU

Kieron James saved the day for Western Illinois and helped the Leathernecks moved into the “Sweet 16” round of the FCS (I-AA) playoffs last Saturday with a key interception at the goal line.

It was the first college career interception for the former Southeast High standout and preserved his team’s 17-10 victory over host Coastal Carolina.

The victory earns James and his teammates a game at I-AA power and FCS Tournament top seed Appalachian State this Saturday.

The 6-0, 185 pound sophomore cornerback picked off the pass with 1:33 left in the game and returned it 35 yards allowing WIU (8-4) to run out the clock.

James has started 11 of 12 games this season and has 41 tackles with six pass breakups, eight passes defended one forced fumble.

Kieron James making presence felt at WIU

Defensive back Kieron James is having quite the season for Western Illinois University.

The former Southeast High standout has 35 tackles, including one tackle for a loss and is one of the Missouri Valley Conference's top pass defenders with four pass breakups and four passes defended to go along with a forced fumble.

The six-foot, 180 pound sophomore has started eight of nine games for the 6-3 Leathernecks, who are 4-2 and in second place in the conference behind Northern Iowa (4-1), who they play in two weeks in their regular season finale.