Early in the process, the Longhorns looked like a leader for Skyline LB Peter Jinkens. Then, a visit to College Station put the Aggies on top and when Jinkens didn't make it to the first Texas Junior Day on February 13th, it looked like his recruitment by Texas might be on life support. That all changed this week when news started to float out of College Station that the Aggies no longer had room for Jinkens in their quickly-expanding class.
Following that revelation, it was not a particularly well-kept secret that Jinkens could commit to Texas if offered at the second Junior Day and that's exactly what happened on Saturday afternoon, as the 6-1, 210-pounder became the first JD2 commitment and the ninth pledge of the 2012 class for Mack Brown and company. No doubt the commitment on Monday from teammate Thomas Johnson helped the Texas cause, as did the presence on campus of Mike Davis, another Skyline alum.
A raw athlete with tremendous upside, Jinkens also played some running back as a junior, a position at which he showed off his burst, top-end speed, and a little bit of shake in his hips that bodes well for his ability to transition in coverage. At times, observers weren't impressed with Jinkens as a linebacker, noting that he often disappeared during games, but there's no questioning his athleticism and with a strong group of linebackers in front of him in the 2011 and 2012 classes, Jinkens won't be asked to contribute early.