Caden Jenkins is officially in the transfer portal, and while that news doesn’t shock anyone, it does bring some finality to what’s been a messy couple of weeks in Waco. The former Baylor cornerback made the announcement himself, confirming what most already knew: that his time with the Bears is done.
Jenkins was dismissed from the program last week for what was described as a violation of team rules. The details haven’t been made public, and they probably won’t be, but once that news broke, it was only a matter of time before the portal post followed. On Tuesday night, Jenkins made it official.
This is a big name hitting the portal, even if the timing and circumstances are a little rough. Jenkins was a Freshman All-American in 2023 and looked like one of the best young corners in the Big 12 at that time. He picked off three passes, forced turnovers, and made a real impact in the secondary. But the last two years didn’t look the same. His role dropped off, and even before the dismissal, it felt like something was off with how things were trending.
Now he’ll look for a fresh start, and there’s still enough on tape to make him worth a look. At 6-foot and around 190 pounds, he’s got solid measurables and plenty of on-field experience. There’s no question the tools are still there, but whichever program takes him on is going to want to see growth off the field, too. That’s part of the deal when you’re leaving a program under these kinds of circumstances.
Portal season always comes with a mix of potential and baggage, and Jenkins is a good example of that. He’s still got value, and somebody is going to take a shot on him. Where he lands will say a lot about how much people believe he can get back to his freshman form.
