Preseason expectations for Washington’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins are high, even while the junior tight end works through his off-the-field issue.
That issue could be coming to an end, however. Per multiple outlets, Jenkins pleaded guilty on Monday in his DUI case. Jenkins was officially sentenced to 364 days in jail, though all but one of those days are suspended. He will serve his one-day jail sentence on July 31, six days before the start of UW’s fall camp.
Jenkins was cited in March for drunk driving after he crashed the vehicle he was operating. His blood alcohol content was later measured to be .18 percent, more than double the state legal limit. He was later suspended from the team by head coach Steve Sarkisian and formally charged with a DUI.
What’s next for Jenkins now that his legal house is order? Well, Washington has yet to issue a statement on the plea agreement, and there’s likely a reason for that. Sarkisian has a decision to make. On one hand, maybe he feels one night in jail is punishment enough for Jenkins, who is lucky he didn’t kill himself or anyone else by getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. On the other hand, suspending arguably your best offensive weapon for the big season-opening game against Boise State -- perhaps longer -- would send a message.
Maybe it’ll be somewhere in between, where Sarkisian makes Jenkins earn his way back, so to speak, by dealing with it internally. There are multiple options, but clearly Sarkisian wishes he didn’t have to exercise any of them.
