By Gerardo Bolong
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Persistence and patience are two apparent traits of Isaiah Jenkins' personality.

His high school career featured many accomplishments and honors. He earned first team All-Metro League Sound Division honors as both a wide receiver and defensive back. As a senior, he accounted for 434 yards on 23 receptions while hauling in five touchdown catches. In that year, he led the Wildcats to a 6-4 record and a share of the Metro League Sound Division regular season title. As a junior, he helped West Seattle win its first eight games before the team fell in the playoffs. For that season, Jenkins earned second team All-Metro League Sound Division honors both as a wide receive and defensive back.
During his Eastern Washington football career, the 2010 West Seattle High School graduate has persevered through good and hard times.

Following a redshirt 2010 season, Jenkins saw significant action at the end of the season to earn his letter.
Jenkins did not play in 2012, but came back to letter as a backup safety and special teams player in 2013, getting credit for two tackles before suffering a shoulder injury that caused him to miss EWU's final six games.

Now, in his senior year, he is ready to step up his progress.

"The injury is 100 percent healed and I'm ready to contribute, again," he said on Sept. 6 at Husky Stadium after the No. 2-ranked Football Championship sub-division Eagles did everything but defeat the University of Washington in a 59-52 loss.

Against the UW, Jenkins played regularly on kick return teams while getting second half action at free safety.
The Wildcat alum described this season's progress.

"I've really improved to play fast and recognize plays faster," he said. "Right now, I'm No. 2 at free safety and working hard to be No. 1. Getting more playing time is my goal. Staying hungry and competing to get better keeps me pumped up."

Heading into the Husky encounter, Jenkins intercepted a pass in a pass for a return of three yards while earning a solo tackle and assisted tackle in a 41-9 thrashing of Montana Western on Aug. 30.

In the previous 56-35 defeat of Sam Houston St., he intercepted another pass and made an assisted tackle.
Due to missing games in the 2013 season, the former Wildcat has applied for one more season of eligibility on a medical redshirt basis.
For now, he is focused on making an impact this season.
"I'm excited about what I can do," he concluded.