Malcolm Jenkins to Serve as Bell Ringer Against Maryland

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Malcolm Jenkins, a two-time Super Bowl Champion, 2008 Thorpe Award winner and 2023 Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, is set to serve as the fourth Bell Ringer of the 2026 season when the Buckeyes host Maryland on Oct. 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.

Jenkins is the 12th Bell Ringer since the tradition began in 2025.

Jenkins, one of the most accomplished defensive backs in Ohio State football history, followed his standout collegiate career with 13 NFL seasons, two Super Bowl championships and three Pro Bowl selections. A four-year letterman from 2005-08, the Piscataway, N.J., native helped the Buckeyes win four consecutive Big Ten championships and reach two BCS national championship games. Ohio State compiled a 43-8 record during those four seasons, including four consecutive victories over Michigan.

A team captain and three-time All-Big Ten selection, Jenkins combined versatility, production and leadership throughout his Ohio State career. He started 45 of his 49 career games and finished with 196 tackles, 11 interceptions, 18 passes defended, three blocked punts and four forced fumbles. He returned two of his interceptions for touchdowns and developed into one of the nation's premier defensive backs under head coach Jim Tressel.

Jenkins capped his collegiate career by winning the 2008 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back and earning consensus first team All-America honors. During his senior season, he recorded a career-high 57 tackles, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, two blocked punts and a sack. His senior-year recognition followed second team Associated Press All-America honors and a Thorpe Award semifinalist selection in 2007. His college accomplishments were recognized with induction into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023.

Selected by the New Orleans Saints with the 14th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Jenkins played seven seasons with New Orleans across two stints and six seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. He helped the Saints win Super Bowl XLIV as a rookie and later served as a captain on the Eagles' Super Bowl LII championship team, helping Philadelphia secure its first Lombardi Trophy. A three-time Pro Bowl selection with the Eagles, Jenkins became known for his durability, versatility and leadership before retiring in March 2022. He was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 2025.

Beyond football, Jenkins has established a lasting record of community service and advocacy. He founded The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation in 2010 to provide educational resources, scholarships and youth-development opportunities in underserved communities. In 2017, he co-founded the Players Coalition with Anquan Boldin to advance racial and social equality through criminal justice reform, education and economic opportunity. His work earned him the NFL Players Association's Byron "Whizzer" White Award in 2017 and the Big Ten's Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award in 2021, recognizing an impact that extends well beyond his accomplishments on the field.

Bell Ringer Information & Honorees
Alpha Phi Omega members have long rung the Victory Bell across campus following Ohio State victories. That postgame tradition continues, and in 2025, Ohio State introduced a pregame Bell Ringer tradition at Ohio Stadium.

Before kickoff, a featured guest rings the Victory Bell to energize the crowd as the Buckeyes prepare to take the field. Two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin became the first Bell Ringer before Ohio State's Aug. 30, 2025, season opener against Texas.

The words "For Vigor" are inscribed in the concrete above the bell inside Ohio Stadium. The phrase reflects the effort, energy and enthusiasm the Bell represents each time it rings — and the spirit Ohio State asks Buckeye Nation to bring on game day.

2026 Bell Ringers

April 18, 2026 (Spring Game) - Jackson Smith-Njigba

Sept. 5, 2026 vs. Ball State – Maurice Clarett

Sept. 19, 2026 vs. Kent State – Katie Smith

Sept. 26, 2026 vs. Illinois – James Laurinaitis

Oct. 10, 2026 vs. Maryland – Malcolm Jenkins

2025 Bell Ringers

Aug. 30, 2025 vs. Texas – Archie Griffin

Sept. 6, 2025 vs. Grambling State – John Cooper

Sept. 13, 2025 vs. Ohio – Clark Kellogg

Oct. 4, 2025 vs. Minnesota – Michael Redd

Nov. 1, 2025 vs. Penn State – Urban Meyer

Nov. 15, 2025 vs. UCLA – Jerry Lucas

Nov. 22, 2025 vs. Rutgers – Jim Tressel

Experience the Bell Ringer Up Close
You can be a part of the Bill Ringer tradition through Buckeye Experiences.
You and a guest will get to go inside the bell tower to watch the day's honorary bell ringer ring the Victory Bell as the 'Shoe comes to life before kickoff! This experience meets 45 minutes prior to kickoff at the check-in booth located inside Gate 30.

Game Themes for October 10 vs. Maryland

This game will serve as the centerpiece of Ohio State University's Homecoming Weekend. For more information and a full list of homecoming festivities, visit homecoming.osu.edu.

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