A.J. Jenkins is choosing post routes and playbooks over pomp and circumstance.
When the San Francisco 49ers open their three-day rookie minicamp Friday, the team's first-round draft pick will be in attendance -- a full 2,000 miles away from commencement ceremonies at University of Illinois, where Jenkins is schedules to graduate Sunday.
Jenkins originally planned to attend his graduation -- with coach Jim Harbaugh's blessing -- but changed his mind. The wideout's agent, Jon Perzley, told the Bay Area News Group it was a "no brainer" to join his new teammates.
"(Graduating) is certainly important. He busted his tail to graduate and he's getting that piece of paper no matter what," Purzley said, adding that contract talks won't hold back Jenkins: "He certainly won't miss training camp. A deal will get done."
Out of the gate, a better experience for San Francisco than the early days of receiver Michael Crabtree, the team's first-round pick in 2009 who missed rookie training camp -- and four games of the 2009 season -- over a bitter contract standoff.
This time around, the 49ers appear to have a gentleman -- and a scholar.
