Using his 4.31-second speed in the 40-yard dash, Illinois wide receiver A.J. Jenkins dashed to the bathroom during Thursday night’s NFL draft.
His sister shouted that he had a phone call. He thought it was a cousin who earlier prank called him.
“It was the 49ers,” said Jenkins, whom the 49ers selected with the 30th overall pick. “I was at a loss for words. I was like, ‘Wow.’ It’s a dream come true.”
He likely wasn’t the only one surprised, even though 49ers general manager Trent Baalke placed Jenkins’ name in a sealed envelope Thursday morning and predicted Jenkins would be their choice.
“If you follow the story the next few days, you’ll find a lot more people like A.J. than the 49ers,” Baalke said of the 6-foot, 190-pound Jenkins.
Among those still on the draft board at No. 30 were wide receivers such as Georgia Tech’s Stephen Hill, South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery and LSU’s Rueben Randle, as well as Stanford tight end Coby Fleener and Midwestern State guard Amini Silatolu.
Count coach Jim Harbaugh among those enamored with Jenkins’ productivity at Illinois (90 catches, 1,276 yards, eight touchdowns as a senior), his 40-yard dash time at the scouting combine and his “big hands.”
“We’re glad to be get somebody as explosive, talented, a smart guy and tough guy,” Harbaugh said. “Going into the draft, I don’t think there was a glaring need we had to address.”
Jenkins joins 2009 top choice Michael Crabtree on a receiving corps that also has added free agents Randy Moss and Mario Manningham, along with returning veterans Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams and Brett Swain.
“Those are great players for A.J. to be mentored by, learn from and to compete with,” Harbaugh added.
Said Jenkins: “I thought it was a perfect fit to be honest. I didn’t know the phone call would come so soon. I’m honored, blessed. Wow. Crazy.”
Jenkins’ last collegiate game took place in San Francisco. He had six receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown in a 20-14 win over UCLA on New Year’s Eve in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park.
Among those in attendance was Tom Gamble, 49ers director of player personnel. But Jenkins appeared on the 49ers’ radar well before that, starting with regional scout Ethan Waugh’s three visits to Illinois last year and proceeding to the eyes of Baalke and Joel Patton, the 49ers’ director of college scouting.
Baalke pointed to two other games in which Jenkins excelled: vs. Northwestern last season (12 catches, 268 yards, three touchdowns) and at Penn State in 2010 (seven catches, 76 yards, one TD). Jenkins’ appearances in the East-West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl also impressed Baalke.
As for Jenkins’ speed, Baalke stated: “The card reads 4.31, and really who cares? It’s what they play to. Go back to Jerry Rice – they talked about how he ran 4.56, 4.58, never was in the 4.5s. (Rice) ran faster than anybody there.”
Said Jenkins: “I always loved Jerry Rice. It’s a blessing an honor to be playing in the same uniform.”
Jenkins grew up in Jacksonville, Fla., and went to Jaguars games on his father Alfred’s shoulders. He visited the Jaguars during the predraft process, along with the Ravens, Chiefs, Lions, Rams and 49ers.
During his visit to Harbaugh’s office at the 49ers facility, Jenkins took the same football quiz that was given last year to Aldon Smith, the pass-rushing phenom the 49ers picked No. 7 overall.
Among the questions: Who won the Heisman Trophy two years ago? What are the BCS bowl games? What is the name of Green Bay’s field?
“I was getting them right,” Jenkins said.
Said Harbaugh: “He scored very well. He’s a bright guy, a football guy, a gold-helmet guy and somebody we’re really pleased to have.”
Jenkins said he met quarterback Alex Smith during his visit but not any of the wide receivers, a unit that produced only one reception in the NFC title game loss to the New York Giants.
“I was watching draft and not expecting to get called tonight,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins’ joy of becoming a 49er came through loud and clear on the congratulatory phone call with Baalke and Harbaugh.
“You love it when they’re excited,” Baalke said. “You hope they’re excited. You hope they’re not, ‘Do I have to come to San Francisco?'”
