(670 The Score) When offensive tackle Teven Jenkins joined the Oklahoma State football program as a freshman, his coaches couldn't predict what was to come.
Jenkins was a raw-but-talented youngster who had potential that he didn't realize at the time. Then, it all clicked in his junior season as Jenkins began to transform into player he is today -- a second-round pick of the Bears last Friday and their projected starter at left tackle.
"It was his vision of seeing himself in the NFL," Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn said on the Bernstein & Rahimi Show on Wednesday. "I don't know when he walked in the door that he believed he was an NFL tackle. I don't know that. I do know that two years ago, I know that's what happened.
"We all had a hand in saying, 'Hey, look, you can do this on Sunday and you can take care of yourself financially, you can help your parents, you can do the whole deal and be a first- or second-round draft pick.' Finally, when he bought into that, it all turned.
"You saw a different football player, one that played with so much more confidence than he did his first two seasons."
Jenkins was honorable mention all-Big 12 in 2019, then was a first-team all-conference selection in 2020. The Bears traded up in the second round to select Jenkins with the No. 39 overall pick. Chicago then released six-year starting left tackle Charles Leno Jr. earlier this week, clearing a spot for Jenkins to start.