Keonta Jenkins

Last updated
Keonta Jenkins
No. 49  Buffalo Bills
Position Linebacker
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight211 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school Jean Ribault
(Jacksonville, Florida)
College Virginia Tech (2020–2024)
NFL draft 2025: undrafted
Career history
Career NFL statistics as of Week 2, 2025
Games played 1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Keonta Jenkins is an American professional football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies and was signed by the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2025.

Contents

Early life

Jenkins was born in Jacksonville, Florida. [1] He attended Jean Ribault High School in Jacksonville where he played football as a wide receiver, cornerback and safety. [2] Ranked a three-star recruit, he had nearly 20 scholarship offers from NCAA Division I teams and committed to play college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies. [3] [4]

College career

Jenkins opened his true freshman season at Virginia Tech in 2020 as a starter at safety. [4] That year, he appeared in eight games, two as a starter, posting 10 tackles. [2] He then had one start in 12 games in 2021, tallying 17 tackles with two pass breakups. [2] He started nine of 11 games during the 2022 season, posting 40 tackles, an interception and three pass breakups. [2] He then had 10 starts in 2023 and made 50 tackles with 10 tackles-for-loss (TFLs), two forced fumbles and an interception. [2] As a senior in 2024, Jenkins posted 65 tackles, a sack and an interception. [5] He concluded his collegiate career with 184 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions and nine pass deflections. [6]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+18 in
(1.88 m)
211 lb
(96 kg)
30+34 in
(0.78 m)
8+58 in
(0.22 m)
4.57 s1.63 s2.63 s4.58 s7.18 s34.5 in
(0.88 m)
9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)
9 reps
All values from Pro Day [7] [8]

After going unselected in the 2025 NFL draft, Jenkins signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. [9] He was released on August 26, 2025, then re-signed to the practice squad the following day. [10] [11] He was elevated to the active roster for the team's Week 2 game against the New York Jets and made his NFL debut in the game. [1] [12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Keonta Jenkins Stats". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Keonta Jenkins". Virginia Tech Hokies.
  3. "Keonta Jenkins honored as All-Star Athlete". WJXT. December 15, 2019.
  4. 1 2 Niziolek, Mike (September 25, 2020). "Virginia Tech true freshman Keonta Jenkins plans on making most of unlikely starting role". The Roanoke Times via archive.today.
  5. "Keonta Jenkins College Stats". Sports Reference .
  6. Caudell, Jackson (April 26, 2025). "Virginia Tech Linebacker Keonta Jenkins Signs Undrafted Free Agent Contract With Buffalo Bills". Sports Illustrated .
  7. "Keonta Jenkins College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  8. "Keonta Jenkins RAS". RAS.Football. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  9. Gurzi, Randy (July 25, 2025). "Bills UDFA LB projected as most likely to make roster during training camp". Sports Illustrated .
  10. Glab, Maddy (August 26, 2025). "Bills release 27 players | Aug. 26". Buffalo Bills.
  11. White, Alec (August 27, 2025). "Bills sign 16 players to practice squad". Buffalo Bills.
  12. Acosta, Jonathan (September 13, 2025). "Bills elevate LB Keonta Jenkins, DT Zion Logue from practice squad for visit to Jets". WGRZ.