TicketsBearcat Spotlight: Jamar Enzor
UC?s team joker is no laughing matter to opposing offenses.
10/27/2004
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by Bobby Schuckmann, Sports Communications Student
Senior Jamar Enzor is a jokester off the field, but is all business when it comes to playing middle linebacker for UC. The 2003 team MVP hopes to help turn around his team which has struggled through the first half of the season. "It's tough being a senior and going 2-4. I didn't want to feel the same feeling that I felt last year." Last season was Enzor's first losing season with the Bearcats after three consecutive bowl games.
Just as Enzor seemed to improve over the course of last year's season (72 tackles for a 14.4 average over his last five games), he is optimistic his team can do the same this year. "I just want to turn things around right now. We were in the same position two years ago in 2002, when we won a conference championship, so hopefully we can turn it around like we did then." That year UC was also 2-4 after six games, but the Cats then rallied to finish 7-7, with a conference record of 6-2 and a trip to the New Orleans Bowl.
The Bearcats still believe they can achieve some of the goals they set forth the beginning of the season. "One or two goals can still be achieved; one, which is to have a winning season, and two, to still go to a bowl game and send the seniors out on a good note."
With a new coaching staff, Enzor and the Bearcats knew some learning time was to be expected. But learning and adapting has been something he's become accustomed to. "It's been kind of tough with a different style of coaches from the ones we've had in the past. For my position it's been kind of the same because I've had a different position coach every year since I've been here."
Though still learning, he has been a large contributor on the defensive side of the ball. "He can be a dominant player for us," Coach Dantonio said. Defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi likes his speed and quickness. "The first thing I said is 'he's fast and I'm glad we've got him.' That's what you say when you look at him. You watch him on tape and you see he's got a second gear like no other (middle linebacker) I've coached." It is Enzor's speed that he relies on to make tackles.
The team-oriented Enzor had set some personal goals for himself at the beginning of the season, but those have been pushed to the back-burner. "I really don't care about my personal goals right now. It's all about my team goals."
Nonetheless, he has compiled a team leading 28 solo tackles, as well as forty-four total tackles, which puts him one behind senior safety Doug Monahan for the team lead.
The 6'1", 238-pound defensive machine has compiled a substantial resume during his time with the Bearcats. During this year's Miami game, he racked up game and season highs with seven unassisted tackles, and also added three more assisted takedowns. He added to his stats by forcing a Miami fumble. Enzor also played well against Ohio State, compiling eight tackles and a sack and also forcing and recovering a fumble.
Last year, his first year as a starter, he was named third team All-Conference USA while pacing the defense with 137 total tackles and also making 79 solo takedowns. Enzor showed excellent pass coverage skills by producing six pass deflections and grabbing two interceptions. In 2002, he played in every game at linebacker. While splitting time with Willis Edwards, he ranked third on the team with 51 solo and 91 total tackles. He was also third on the team with 15 tackles for loss and added 4.5 sacks.
During his high school days at Havana High in Florida he was named second team all-state by the Tallahassee Democrat as a senior. He also made 77 solo takedowns and 94 total tackles with four sacks and two fumble recoveries as a senior, despite missing three games with an ankle injury. He received team awards for best defensive player, best linebacker and highest grade point average.
Enzor's accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. He is one of 62 candidates on the watch list for the Butkus Award, which honors college football's top linebacker. "It's an honor. I've never been up for an award since I've been here (Cincinnati) except for MVP last year, and that felt real, real, good. In high school I was rated the sixth-best player in Florida, but didn't win an award. It feels real good to be mentioned in the same presence with some of the players they have on that list."
Not bad for a guy who did not start playing organized football until his sophomore year of high school. It was Enzor's three brothers who always played football, and he was the one who preferred to play basketball. It wasn't until his brother challenged him that he also give football a shot. The rest is history.
Enzor is the fourth 2004 Bearcat to make a watch list for a national award. Quarterback Gino Guidugli is on the watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award while defensive end Trent Cole and offensive guard Kyle Takavitz are on the Lombardi watch list.
Before game time, Enzor can be found in the locker room jumping around, getting himself and others pumped up. "I try to find a way to get hyped. You don't feel the same for every game so I try to do something to break the ice, jump around." He also likes to say things to his teammates to get them amped, but it is Enzor's tough and energetic play that does the talking on the field.
When asked of his favorite UC football memory, the fifth-year senior recalls the home game against Syracuse on September 9, 2000, his freshman year. This was also his redshirt year, which meant Enzor did not even play in the game. The game was a defensive battle with Cincinnati trailing 7-0 as they entered the fourth quarter. The Bearcats were able to get three field goals from Jonathan Ruffin to make the score 9-7 in UC's favor. Syracuse regained the lead on a field goal with 43 seconds remaining before UC moved the ball 46 yards in just 38 seconds to set up a game-wining, 47-yard field goal by Jason Mammerelli as time expired. The final score was UC 12, Syracuse 10. "It was probably one of the best games I've seen in college football."
When Enzor's collegiate playing days are over, he hopes he is remembered as someone who gave it his all. "I just want to be known as someone who played UC style of ball; hard-nosed, physical, play-making football. I played the game well and represented the University of Cincinnati as well as I could."
But Enzor hopes the end to his football-playing days is not in the near future. "Hopefully I make it to the (NFL). If that doesn't work, I've got a degree (Criminal Justice). Hopefully I'll make it to the league. I'm going to try hard, real hard." If he tries as hard as he hits, the odds are in his favor.
When not giving offenses nightmares, the energetic Enzor enjoys tuning things down during his rare spare time by resting and going to the mall with teammates. He also enjoys cutting it up with the guys. "I'm a joker. I like to joke a lot. I like to make people laugh. It seems like the older I get the more I stray away from it. I've always been a joker. In high school I was a class clown. I always wanted to make people laugh." The graduating senior may be a joker off the field, but while on the field, it's usually Enzor who gets the last laugh.