Malcolm Jenkins Malcolm Jenkins ( born December 20 , 1987 ) is an American football safety for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for Ohio State University , earning All - American honors , and winning the Jim Thorpe Award as a senior . He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints with the 14th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft . Early years . Jenkins played high school football at Piscataway Township High School in Piscataway Township , New Jersey , where he helped lead his team to three consecutive state championships . He played both wide receiver and defensive back . He also excelled at track , winning the state title in the 400 meters as a junior . Considered a three - star recruit by " Rivals . com " , Jenkins was listed as No . 61 cornerback prospect in the nation in 2005 . College career . During his freshman season at Ohio State Jenkins spent most of his time at nickelback . He finished the season with 37 tackles in 10 games . In 2006 he started all 13 games at corner and was a consensus first - team All - Big Ten . He finished ' 06 with 55 tackles and four interceptions . As a junior in 2007 Jenkins recorded 47 tackles and four interceptions and was named a first team All - American by " Pro Football Weekly " and a first team All - Big Ten for the second consecutive year . As a senior in 2008 he won the Jim Thorpe Award , which is given to the nation ' s best defensive back , after recording 57 tackles and three interceptions . Jenkins is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity . He was vice president , stepmaster , and chaplain of the Ohio State chapter ; he has a prominent fraternity brand on his upper left arm , and another one on his chest . Professional career . 2009 NFL Draft . Jenkins was considered one of the top - 2 defensive backs available in the draft ( alongside Vontae Davis ) , and drew comparisons to Terence Newman . However , after Jenkins ran a comparably slow 40 yard dash , some scouts considered him better suited for the safety position . He was drafted by the Saints , 14th overall . New Orleans Saints . Jenkins was the first cornerback to be taken by the Saints in the first round since Oregon ' s Alex Molden went at No . 11 in the 1996 NFL Draft . On August 9 , 2009 , the Saints agreed to terms with Jenkins on a five - year , $ 19 million contract . Jenkins started his first career game due to injuries to Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter during week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . He finished the game recording seven tackles and his first career interception off of Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman . Jenkins was moved to free safety for the 2010 season , originally with the intent of backing up starting free safety Darren Sharper ; he became a starter after Sharper was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform ( " PUP " ) list to start the season , and continued to receive substantial playing time even after Sharper returned from his injury . In the fourth quarter of a 2010 Thanksgiving Day game against the Dallas Cowboys , Jenkins came from behind to strip the ball from Cowboys receiver Roy Williams . The Saints were losing at that point of the game , but came back to win the game , 30 - 27 . Saints coach Sean Payton said Jenkins performed " one of those plays that inspires everybody on the team " . Jenkins was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance . Two weeks later , Jenkins intercepted two passes from St . Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford , returning one of them 96 yards for his first NFL touchdown . Jenkins was again named NFC Defensive Player of the Week . Philadelphia Eagles . Jenkins signed a three - year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on March 11 , 2014 .