University of Tennessee Athletics
DeRon Jenkins HGTV
Photo by: HGTV
VFL DeRon Jenkins Now a Star on HGTV’s Flip or Flop Nashville
January 31, 2019 | Football
The former All-SEC cornerback and NFL veteran’s home renovation show airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET
By Zach Stipe, Director of Football Communications
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Following seven years in the NFL and four years as a starter at Tennessee, DeRon Jenkins figured his next career would be in coaching.
However, the 1996 NFL Draft second-round pick found he had a passion for building houses as he wrapped up his professional football stretch with the Tennessee Titans in the early 2000's.
"There's something exciting to me about creating … about driving by a piece of dirt and three-to-six months later, depending on how big the house is, there's a building there," Jenkins said. "I've been doing real estate, building and renovations for over 15 years. Ever since I stopped playing professional football, this is basically what I've done."
The former football star has found success as a contractor with his company, DY Construction. He's done well enough that HGTV came calling in 2017 when the network was looking to do a spin-off of its successful Flip or Flop series.
Now, Jenkins is the star of his own television show, Flip or Flop Nashville, with longtime friend Page Turner, a real-estate agent. Similar to the original Flip or Flop, the duo finds homes to purchase and renovate before reselling. The cameras follow the process from start to finish. The show airs on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET on HGTV. Season two (12 episodes) recently wrapped up filming and began airing in January.
Jenkins started at cornerback for the Vols from 1992 to 1995 and collected All-SEC First Team honors his senior season when he had four interceptions. He played in 93 games in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants and the Titans, making 50 starts.
He is used to the spotlight, but marvels at the reach HGTV has across the country.
"The cool thing about HGTV is it crosses all ages, genders and races," Jenkins said. "I've had 9- or 10-year old kids shout at me that they watch my show. I've had 55-year-old women come up to me while I'm traveling in the airport. It's a show that really crosses every boundary. That's what I enjoy about it. Everybody enjoys it. It's on in every dentist's office and doctor's office. It's been a cool experience. It's definitely hard work, though."
Jenkins realized construction management and real estate may be his calling when he renovated his own home as his professional football career wrapped up. While the pull of football and teaching youth was strong, Jenkins realized he wanted to be his own boss and he had a knack for design.
"I wanted to control my own destiny," he said. "I started trying to renovate my first house back in 2002 or 2003. It went from there. I built my first house in 2004. I've essentially been building and renovating ever since. I have got more into the design aspect of it over the last seven or eight years. I pick out all of my fixtures and all of my tile. I design everything as far as the house is concerned."
Jenkins credits his degree in psychology from Tennessee and his years in football as major reasons for his success as a contractor.
"I can't build a house by myself, personally," Jenkins said. "There are so many things and so many people that go into building a house. It's truly teamwork when putting together a project.
"I'm constantly managing, scheduling people and meeting with people to ultimately accomplish a common goal."
As the contractor, he is the head coach of the project.
"Ultimately, I'm responsible for everything and everybody," Jenkins said. "If everything goes well, you look towards the coach."
Jenkins was part of Phillip Fulmer's first three seasons as a head coach.
His senior year in 1995, the Vols went 11-1, capping the season with a 20-14 victory over Ohio State in the Citrus Bowl. Jenkins' favorite memory of that season wasn't an interception or a sack. It was a seemingly random play that ended up being one of the deciding factors in a 30-27 victory over Georgia in Week 2.
Playing on the left side of the field, Jenkins chased down star Bulldogs' running back Robert Edwards, who had broken free on the right sideline, preventing a touchdown.
"We are always taught to chase the play – always run to the ball," he remembered. "I stopped him at the 8- or 9-yard line, and they had to kick a field goal. That's how we won the game. That was pretty cool just because it was a random play. (Defensive Coordinator John) Chavis gave me the game ball for the defense."
Now, Jenkins tracks down houses instead of ball carriers. And while he doesn't receive any game balls, he finds gratification from the houses he builds and renovates on his show and in the Nashville community as a whole.
"I enjoy being able to drive around Nashville and see the buildings I have built," he said. "I think that is really cool. I enjoy seeing that throughout the city."
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Following seven years in the NFL and four years as a starter at Tennessee, DeRon Jenkins figured his next career would be in coaching.
However, the 1996 NFL Draft second-round pick found he had a passion for building houses as he wrapped up his professional football stretch with the Tennessee Titans in the early 2000's.
"There's something exciting to me about creating … about driving by a piece of dirt and three-to-six months later, depending on how big the house is, there's a building there," Jenkins said. "I've been doing real estate, building and renovations for over 15 years. Ever since I stopped playing professional football, this is basically what I've done."
The former football star has found success as a contractor with his company, DY Construction. He's done well enough that HGTV came calling in 2017 when the network was looking to do a spin-off of its successful Flip or Flop series.
Now, Jenkins is the star of his own television show, Flip or Flop Nashville, with longtime friend Page Turner, a real-estate agent. Similar to the original Flip or Flop, the duo finds homes to purchase and renovate before reselling. The cameras follow the process from start to finish. The show airs on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET on HGTV. Season two (12 episodes) recently wrapped up filming and began airing in January.
Jenkins started at cornerback for the Vols from 1992 to 1995 and collected All-SEC First Team honors his senior season when he had four interceptions. He played in 93 games in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants and the Titans, making 50 starts.
He is used to the spotlight, but marvels at the reach HGTV has across the country.
"The cool thing about HGTV is it crosses all ages, genders and races," Jenkins said. "I've had 9- or 10-year old kids shout at me that they watch my show. I've had 55-year-old women come up to me while I'm traveling in the airport. It's a show that really crosses every boundary. That's what I enjoy about it. Everybody enjoys it. It's on in every dentist's office and doctor's office. It's been a cool experience. It's definitely hard work, though."
Jenkins realized construction management and real estate may be his calling when he renovated his own home as his professional football career wrapped up. While the pull of football and teaching youth was strong, Jenkins realized he wanted to be his own boss and he had a knack for design.
"I wanted to control my own destiny," he said. "I started trying to renovate my first house back in 2002 or 2003. It went from there. I built my first house in 2004. I've essentially been building and renovating ever since. I have got more into the design aspect of it over the last seven or eight years. I pick out all of my fixtures and all of my tile. I design everything as far as the house is concerned."
Jenkins credits his degree in psychology from Tennessee and his years in football as major reasons for his success as a contractor.
"I can't build a house by myself, personally," Jenkins said. "There are so many things and so many people that go into building a house. It's truly teamwork when putting together a project.
"I'm constantly managing, scheduling people and meeting with people to ultimately accomplish a common goal."
As the contractor, he is the head coach of the project.
"Ultimately, I'm responsible for everything and everybody," Jenkins said. "If everything goes well, you look towards the coach."
Jenkins was part of Phillip Fulmer's first three seasons as a head coach.
His senior year in 1995, the Vols went 11-1, capping the season with a 20-14 victory over Ohio State in the Citrus Bowl. Jenkins' favorite memory of that season wasn't an interception or a sack. It was a seemingly random play that ended up being one of the deciding factors in a 30-27 victory over Georgia in Week 2.
Playing on the left side of the field, Jenkins chased down star Bulldogs' running back Robert Edwards, who had broken free on the right sideline, preventing a touchdown.
"We are always taught to chase the play – always run to the ball," he remembered. "I stopped him at the 8- or 9-yard line, and they had to kick a field goal. That's how we won the game. That was pretty cool just because it was a random play. (Defensive Coordinator John) Chavis gave me the game ball for the defense."
Now, Jenkins tracks down houses instead of ball carriers. And while he doesn't receive any game balls, he finds gratification from the houses he builds and renovates on his show and in the Nashville community as a whole.
"I enjoy being able to drive around Nashville and see the buildings I have built," he said. "I think that is really cool. I enjoy seeing that throughout the city."
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