Now relocated out to the West Coast while playing for the San Francisco 49ers, former Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings hasn’t forgotten his home state roots.
Born in the small town of Cowan, TN, Jennings attended Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Jennings was a talented prospect in the 2015 class as a four-star recruit according to 247Sports. What some may not remember, though, is that Jennings began his career as a quarterback.
Jennings was the fifth-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2015 and finished his high school career as the Tennessee High School Football Player of the Year in 2014.
Ironically enough, Jennings had a better ranking as a quarterback prospect than either of the starting quarterbacks in the Super Bowl this Sunday evening on CBS. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was a three-star prospect in the class of 2018 while Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was a three-star prospect in the 2014 class.
Jennings signed on with Tennessee before the 2015 season and instantly became a contributor on the offensive end from the wide receiver position. The home state player racked up countless memorable moments during his five-year career on Rocky Top, including the Hail Mary catch against Georgia, a bobbling tip-toe catch down the sideline against Florida, a 58-yard trick-play pass to Joshua Dobbs, and countless more plays of refusing to be tackled by defenders. With the ball in his hands moving down the field, Jennings’ aggression was often unmatched and made him a fan-favorite from the Big Orange.
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After a college career that saw him achieve 2,153 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns on 146 receptions, Jennings was taken by the 49ers with the 217th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Perhaps only a few players fit their specific role better than Jennings with the 49ers. With Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffery, and George Kittle, the Niners already have their pockets lined with talented playmakers in each position group on the offense.
What Jennings provides for the offense is a gritty, tough, miserable-to-play-against type of wide receiver who does the little things right to set up the big playmakers down the field. Jennings is especially praised for his blocking ability; Which, in an offense that possesses downfield shakers like CMC and Samuel, Jennings’ role might just be one of the most important on the field.
Gearing up for his first-ever appearance in a Super Bowl this weekend, Jennings still has his home state on his mind.
“It’s a blessing. It’s extremely amazing,” Jennings said to Tennessee Titans reporter Jim Wyatt at Super Bowl Media Day this week as he looked at all of the sights around him. “I’m just representing everybody from Tennessee, representing the 49ers. I have a lot of family out here. Everybody is rooting for me. I just can’t wait to bring it back to Tennessee.”
From a talented prospect in the Midstate to one of the most memorable Tennessee players of the modern era, Jennings’ workmanship mentality and non-stop attitude have helped him reach the NFL’s biggest game in just his fourth professional season.
“I just told myself as a kid, all I’ve got to do is just keep doing the work every day,” Jennings continued on to say, reflecting upon his journey. “That’s my life now. Just going to work Monday through Sunday.”
VFL Jauan Jennings will be the 74th player from the University to Tennessee to compete in a Super Bowl as he squares off against VFL Trey Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs. If the Niners defeat the Chiefs, Jennings will be the 36th player in Tennessee history to win a Super Bowl in their first appearance. On the other hand, though, Smith could become just the ninth Tennessee player to win multiple Super Bowls in the career after winning his first last season.
Super Bowl LVIII will kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon. CBS will have the broadcast for the Big Game.
.@49ers receiver Jauan Jennings from @BlackmanFtball and @Vol_Football at #SuperBowlLVIII.
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) February 6, 2024
