FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Northern Arizona's season is likely to go as far as Ronney Jenkins' legs can carry it, and that could be a long way.
Jenkins transferred to Northern Arizona from Brigham Young after being expelled for violations of the Utah school's strict honor code.After rushing for more than 1,300 yards against the likes of Arizona State, Colorado State and Wyoming, Jenkins insists he's not expecting to run over, around and through the de-fenses he will face in Division I-AA.
"There are good athletes in I-AA too," Jenkins said. "They're big and strong."
Early evidence suggests otherwise. In preseason practices, Jenkins has made NAU's de-fense look silly, cutting and weaving and speeding past defenders when needed.
"Ronney is a gifted young man," NAU coach Jerome Souers said. "One thing that will jump out to anybody that has watched him play is that he has a knack for making that first guy miss. As a defensive coordinator you're counting on that guy to make the tackle. When he doesn't, you have problems that tend to stack up."
Jenkins isn't the only weapon the Lumberjacks have.
Quarterback Travis Brown, who set the NCAA record for passing yards by a quarterback in his freshman and sophomore seasons with 6,793, is back for his senior season.
After battling back from a dislocated elbow that kept him out of three games in the Lumberjacks' 6-5 season last year, Brown is ready to return to the form he exhibited earlier.
Brown and Jenkins will perform for a new offensive coordinator, Brent Pease, a former Montana quarterback and de-fensive coordinator. Pease is one of four ex-Grizzlies on the NAU staff, including Souers, a former Montana defensive coordinator.