Two months after leaving the Penn State wrestling team, Bubba Jenkins has yet to choose a new school.
Though Jenkins said he is still weighing his options, the 2008 NCAA 149-pound runner-up has gained interest from a number of schools, including Arizona State, Old Dominion, Maryland, Nebraska and Iowa State.
Jenkins visited Arizona State because he said the school had been recruiting him since he was a sophomore in high school and he wanted to repay the loyalty. Brian Stith, an Arizona State assistant coach, wrestled at Frank W. Cox High School, Jenkins' former school, and was also Jenkins' ex-coach.
"They had a lot to offer," Jenkins said. "There isn't another Penn State. Penn State is what it is. As far as a No. 2 school and a different coach, they are an option."
While Jenkins said he has no leading options, his mother, Teresa Otero, would rather have her son closer to home. Jenkins has an upcoming visit with Maryland and previously took a trip to Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va., about 18 miles from his hometown of Virginia Beach, Va.
Old Dominion's coach Steve Martin formerly coached at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Va., only several towns away from Virginia Beach. Jenkins also has loyalty toward Maryland. The Terrapins' head coach Kerry McCoy, a former Penn State wrestler, confirmed Jenkins would visit in the future.
"I want to see him home," Otero said. "However, I do want him to be happy."
Otero said a coach with integrity is important for her. Though she does have sway over Jenkins decision, Otero said the decision is ultimately Jenkins'.
Nebraska coach Mark Manning confirmed his interest in Jenkins, but he said he was denied a release to talk to Jenkins in early January by the Penn State compliance office.
Penn State coach Cael Sanderson explained the situation Wednesday.
"We decided we weren't going to release him to a Big Ten or Big 12 team," Sanderson said. "That was what we decided as a staff."
Sanderson said Big Ten and Big 12 teams will be the Lions' primary competition for the national title. Jenkins said he didn't know whether Nebraska would be one of his choices anyway.
Otero reiterated she and her son have no hard feelings against Penn State, and Sanderson said he hopes Jenkins finds a good fit.
Jenkins said he plans on graduating from Penn State and becoming a graduate student at a different school next year. But because of the difficulty of entering graduate school, another option would be not finishing at Penn State and transferring to another school during the summer.
But Jenkins said nothing is certain yet.
"I'm just getting calls from everybody," Jenkins said, "and I'm hoping that if, God willing and I want it to be my choice, that I'll have that choice to make."
