London Jenkins knew about flag football but didn’t think much of the sport. The Fleming Island star was dialed in on basketball, not this flag thing.
But when Jenkins arrived at Fleming Island, she got the full court press from former Golden Eagles star Mykayla Maddox about giving the sport a try. Safe to say that it worked out.
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Jenkins gave it a shot and parlayed that into a dominant career at Fleming Island and All-News4JAX flag football player of the year honors in her final season. When Jenkins looks back at it now, she said that it’s a path many female athletes will likely continue to encounter as they become more and more aware of the sport.
“I didn’t know anything about flag. I played at the YMCA when I was like 7 or 8 years old. But this is when you only could play with boys,” Jenkins said. “So, I never even knew this was a sport until I came to Fleming Island. Mykayla, she was like, ‘you got to play for our team.’ And I was like, ‘I’m not even playing flag football.’ But she convinced me.”
The sales pitch worked, and Jenkins became one of the best athletes in Fleming history over her final two seasons.
On the basketball court, Jenkins averaged 16.9 points per game in her career, and she always though that sport would be the one that she played well on into college. But the pull of flag felt different for Jenkins. Once she tried flag, she fell in love with the game and it completely flipped her athletics trajectory.
“I was going to play basketball on the collegiate level. I had scholarships in that sport as well. But with flag football, it was just like a different love,” Jenkins said. “Like, it’s just so much fun. playing flag is different than basketball. So, I was like, you might as well just go play on the collegiate level. And I’m paving the way for girls younger than me.”
There was something different about lining up on the football field for Jenkins. At receiver, she hauled in long passes from Maddox, the inaugural All-News4JAX player of the year, who led the Golden Eagles to the state championship game for the first time in 2023. Jenkins caught 18 touchdowns from Maddox during that state runner-up season. As a senior, Jenkins moved into the void left by Maddux’s graduation and solidified herself as the area’s top two-way star.
Fleming coach Clint Lyons used Jenkins all over the field. She’s a natural at receiver and in the secondary, but Jenkins had to line up quite a bit more at quarterback to help offset the loss of Maddox. She rushed for 780 yards and 22 touchdowns and passed for five more scores. But Jenkins is far better in the open field or roaming the secondary than she is in the pocket as a quarterback. She had seven touchdown catches on 32 receptions, and was a monster on defense (14 interceptions). Fleming was a combined 31-2 in Jenkins’ two seasons.
Jenkins is headed for Florida Gateway College in Lake City next. The Timberwolves have become the headliner in the sport, winning back-to-back National Junior College Athletic Association championships. The sport is booming nationally and will make its Olympics debut in the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
“My main purpose with this is to make it to the Olympics and show other girls that, like you can really do this,” Jenkins said. “Flag football is a sport that you want to play. It’s fun. It’s a sport that like, boys can play it and girls can play it as well.”
All-News4JAX flag football team
Athlete, school, year
Courtney Brown, Stanton, Sr.
Two-time All-News4JAX selection. Top performer at receiver, linebacker and punter.
Brooke Cooper, Middleburg, Sr.
Lined up at corner, receiver and safety. Nearly 600 yards receiving and 10 TDs. Had a pair of interceptions and 15 pass breakups.
Jasmine Cross, Fletcher, Jr.
Senators QB had 3,757 all-purpose yards (2,834 passing, 923 rushing) and 45 TDs as Senators turned in the best season in program history.
Gaby Fajardo, Stanton, Sr.
Two-time All-News4JAX selection for one of the area’s most consistent programs.
Irvieona Gantt, Mandarin, Sr.
Led Mustangs in receiving (66 catches, 853 yards, 7 TDs). Had 23 flag pulls for 9-6 playoff team.
Ar’Nayshia Griffin, Bradford, So.
Multisport star has been a force on both the offense and defense in her first two seasons with the Tornadoes. Two-time All-News4JAX selection.
Ansley Hicks, Paxon, Sr.
Two-time All-News4JAX selection. QB and safety was central to everything Golden Eagles did. Passed for 796 yards, 15 TDs and rushed for 784 yards (11 TDs). Added 335 receiving yards (3 TDs). Third on team with 41 flag pulls. Had 6 sacks and 4 interceptions.
Reese Holman, Paxon, So.
Had team-best 83 flag pulls, 9 interceptions and 4 defensive TDs. As a pass catcher, led Paxon with 472 yards on 46 catches, 9 TDs.
Kyra Jackson, White, So.
Another versatile star for the 16-4 Commanders. Had 10 picks, 33 tackles on defensive side of the ball. At QB, she passed for 1,436 yards, 15 TDs and added 590 rushing yards, 9 TDs.
London Jenkins, Fleming Island, Sr.
All-News4JAX player of the year for area’s wire-to-wire No. 1 team. Two-time All-News4JAX selection. Had 5 passing TDs, rushed for 780 yards (22 TDs) and had 440 receiving yards (7 TDs). A star on defense, too, she had 22 tackles and 14 interceptions. Signed with Florida Gateway.
Shelby McClain, Clay, Sr.
Center and outside linebacker who led regional finalist Blue Devils in every major category. Had 795 yards, 8 TDs on 112 catches. Had 67 flag pulls, 11 pass breakups, 8 INTs on defense with a couple of those returned for TDs. Honorable mention selection last year.
Ashley Mohrmann, Fletcher, Sr.
Led the regional finalist Senators to their best season in program history. Had 1,023 receiving yards and 16 TDs as a receiver. Added 80 flag pulls and 5 interceptions on defense. Signed with Daytona State.
Teaghan Moses, Clay, So.
Blue Devils QB was 303 for 440 passing (2,577 yards) for 34 TDs. Rushed for 300 yards, 6 TDs as Clay surged into regional finals.
Gabi Musa, Fleming Island, Sr.
Two-time All-News4JAX selection. Rushed for 260 yards and had 220 yards receiving but was better as a defender. Led Fleming with 99 tackles and had 9 interceptions. Heart of the Golden Eagles defense throughout her career.
Tyra Pierce, White, Sr.
Unbelievable athlete. Had 14 interceptions and 48 tackles on defense. Rushed for 1,107 yards, 11 TDs and had another 501 yards (3 TDs) receiving.
Ashley Purdy, Sandalwood, Jr.
Saints QB was 154 for 208 for 3,080 yards, 20 TDs. Added 117 rushing yards, 3 TDs for 8-5 Sandalwood.
Katie Rodney, Fletcher, Sr.
A force at receiver and linebacker, she had 1,078 yards and 19 TDs on offense. On defense, she tallied 70 flag pulls, 17 sacks and 4 interceptions.
Gaby Rourke, Atlantic Coast, Sr.
In the conversation as the top female athlete in the area. Had 1,046 yards, 17 TDs on 87 catches. Had 31 tackles, 16 interceptions and three picks returned for TDs. Two-time All-News4JAX selection in flag and two-time first-teamer in soccer. Signed with University of Kentucky for soccer.
Honorable mention
Player, school, class
Catherine Brewer, Stanton, Jr.
Aniyah Campbell, Ridgeview, Sr.
Paola Cruz, Crescent City, Jr.
Devyn Dudones, Fleming Island, Jr.
Destinie Fair, Westside, Sr.
Shelby Gaines, Oakleaf, So.
Kirsten Gudmalin, Sandalwood, So.
Desiree Hall, Middleburg, Sr.
Lily Holden, Bartram Trail, Jr.
Isabella Jackson, Oakleaf, Sr.
Cheyenne Jenkins, Middleburg, Sr.
Lily Kalil, Clay, Jr.
Haven Lang, Middleburg, Fr.
Gloria Lewis, Oakleaf, So.
Alexis Pabon, Mandarin, Sr.
Cora Parker, Clay, So.
Elyhana Perez-Stevenson, White, So.
Emma Reyes, Ridgeview, Jr.
Cherish Sutton, Suwannee, Jr.
Jessica Tran, Suwanee, Jr.
Tatum Waugh, Clay, Fr.
Alaysha Williams, White, Jr.