After reaching the national finals in 2008, former Penn State wrestler Bubba Jenkins is taking his talents southwest to Arizona State for this coming wrestling season. Penn State revoked Jenkins’ scholarship in December after an oil and water type of relationship with legendary head coach Cael Sanderson. Jenkins reportedly had trouble with Coach Sanderson’s intense workouts and hard-nosed coaching philosophies, which had led Sanderson to an undefeated college career along with 4 national championships and an Olympic gold medal.

Jenkins has only one remaining year of eligibility, but the Sun Devils feel he will make an immediate impact on the following season. Sanderson might agree. Unwilling to release Jenkins to a Big 10 or Big 12 team, which are the wrestling power conferences, Sanderson understands Jenkins’ talent level and wants him to be as far away as possible.  Now Jenkins will call the Pac-10 home for the season while he aspires to win a national championship and move into mixed martial arts.

“Right when I win my national championship (at ASU), I’m starting to fight UFC,” Jenkins told AZCentral.com.

However, if Jenkins could not handle the wear and tear of a Coach Sanderson workout then how will he hold up in the UFC?  Perhaps he simply hopes to take his frustrations that Sanderson created out on someone else.

Jenkins was forced to redshirt his fourth year because he was academically ineligible during the fall semester.  Add that to the pile of disagreements these two had, and the decision to part ways works out best for both sides.  For Jenkins, as long as he is not in the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex with Coach Sanderson, anything will do.