The Big Ten named Malcolm Jenkins the recipient of its Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award on Monday.
The former Ohio State defensive back (2005-08), a consensus All-American and Jim Thorpe Award winner in 2008, was given an honor that recognizes "Big Ten football students who have achieved success in the areas of leadership and humanitarianism following their academic and athletic careers at a Big Ten university," according to a conference release.
Congrats Malcolm! Well-deserved honor! https://t.co/v5tUlnvbQ0
— Gene Smith (@OSU_AD) November 29, 2021
After tallying 11 interceptions and 196 total tackles in 45 career games with the Buckeyes, Jenkins became the 14th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft when the New Orleans Saints selected him in the first round. Jenkins has been a Pro Bowl selection in three seasons during his 13-year career. The 34-year-old has started all 11 games for the Saints so far in 2021.
"Jenkins has consistently been a pillar in the locker room and in the communities in which he has lived, worked, and played, including his home state of New Jersey, Louisiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania," the release states. "In an effort to enhance the lives of youth in underserved communities, Jenkins launched The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation in 2010. The Foundation is dedicated to youth development programs and initiatives that provide innovative learning opportunities, resources, and experiences that will help them succeed in life and become productive and contributing members of their community."
Jenkins has consistently been a pillar in the locker room and in the communities in which he has lived, worked, and played. In 2019 he was the Philadelphia Eagles nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) November 29, 2021
Also in 2019, Jenkins received both the McSilver Award as a Vanguard for Social Justice from the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University and the Community Hero Award at the Community College of Philadelphia. https://t.co/a48NxnnpoX
— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) November 29, 2021
