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BAY AREA DREAMING

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 12, 2008

TAMPA - Mike Jenkins (University of South Florida), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Tennessee State) and JoJo Clermond (Pittsburgh) are three Bay area athletes with their sights set on this month's NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

Jenkins and Rodgers-Cromartie are projected to be first-round picks in April; Clermond is working to become a first-day selection.

Each has been preparing for the Feb. 20-26 combine with performance trainer Tom Shaw at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

"When I look at my situation, I had to pass three tests," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "First, I had to pass the Senior Bowl test. Then I have to pass the combine test. Then I have to do well in my pro workout.

"Coming from a small school, I got to do good at all three of them to get looked at. I'm very focused at the job at hand. This is what I got to do to get it done."

Here is a closer look at each athlete:
MIKE JENKINS
Position: Cornerback; Height/Weight: 5-11/194

Local Tie: Attended the University of South Florida
College Highlight: Returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Cincinnati last season during a 38-33 loss.

Combine Thoughts: "It's real big for me right now. I look at some boards and they have me as high as No. 3 cornerback. The combine will be a big day for me. If I got out there and go great, hopefully I could be No.2."

Draft Day Thoughts: "I kind of had first-hand experience when one of my friends, Fabian Washington, went to Oakland round one in 2005. I have a lot of people saying maybe I should go to New York, but I think I'm just going to chill. Get my son and stay out of the house and hope my name gets called early."

DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE

Position: Cornerback; Height/Weight: 6-2/178

Local Tie: Attended Lakewood Ranch High in Bradenton

College Highlight: Playing as a freshman despite riding the bench in high school and not being able to play until his senior season.

Combine Thoughts: "I wasn't recruited out of high school. I went to a small black college. Coming out of there and just being able to do well is a blessing. I'm a sleeper. I always had to take what I could get."

Draft Day Thoughts: "I'm just going to sit back and take it all in. It ain't going to hit me until a couple of days after. I'm a very grounded person when it comes to emotions. Until my name is called, I'm not going to know how I'm going to feel. When they call me, I'll probably go crazy."

JOJO CLERMOND

Position: Defensive end

Height/Weight: 6-3/250

Local Tie: Attended Chamberlain High

College Highlight: Recording 10.5 sacks and 53 tackles last season, and upsetting West Virginia, 13-9, in the Backyard Brawl that knocked the Mountaineers out of the BCS title game. Clermond, projected to play linebacker in the NFL, had eight tackles and forced a fumble in that game.

Combine Thoughts: "Everything changes depending on how you do in the combine. Most of the money is made from the combine. You need to do good at the combine because it can help you or it can hurt you."

Draft Day Thoughts: "I've been wondering what that feels like. You get to see it on TV. Some guys go fishing. Some guys are actually in the room watching it on TV and some people sit at home with their parents. I just want to know what that is going to feel like and where I'm going to be at when they call my name."

MIKE JENKINS
DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE

JOJO CLERMOND

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