In the world of filmmaking, Jimmy Jenkins uses the lens of sports to tell stories about the universality of the human experience. The Maryland native has garnered critical acclaim for directing Basketball County - In The Water (2020), which focused on the NBA talent originating from Prince George's County, and Comeback Kids: A Middle School Basketball Story.

Nothing But A Winner, his latest film endeavor, transcends the usual football narrative and delves into the societal shifts that transformed the University of Alabama's legendary program.  From the pioneering integration efforts under Coach Bear Bryant during the Civil Rights Movement to the unprecedented dominance of the Nick Saban era, the doc examines one of the most consequential times in the history of the United States.

In a recent interview, Jenkins shared what inspired him to be a filmmaker and why sports stories have the power to change us.

“For some odd, crazy reason, I thought I was going to the NFL. I must have been on some drugs or something because I wasn't that good. I played a little college football, but I got hurt in my freshman year. It was like a real job. I was playing D3 football. I'm like, is it really worth it? And I need to figure out what I can do for the next 50 years of my life instead of trying to play football for the next three years,” Jenkins said to BET. “After my injury, I had to figure out my career. That's when I started filming.”

Eventually, Jenkins started working at BET on programs such as Lift Every Voice, a gospel music show featuring co-hosts Fonzworth Bentley, CoCo Brother, and Gerard Henry. He also had the opportunity to work alongside Tyler Perry, whom he credits with teaching him a valuable lesson that he still carries with him.

“The biggest lesson I learned from Tyler is that time is money, and you gotta make the most of the moments you have. That’s why he’s so effective. He just maximizes his moments. There is a lot of criticism of Tyler, but nobody's ever done it like him,” Jenkins explained. “I don't care what color you are. Nobody's ever done it like him.”

“He's the first one there and the last one to leave. He puts in a lot of work. He's a machine, and I was just blessed to be able to see it. He inspired me so much that it made me quit,” he laughed.

Jenkins would find his voice and his calling in the world of sports. Helming Comeback Kids: A Middle School Basketball Story allowed him to direct a film about the DMV, where he was born and raised,  and rekindle his love for sports.

“It was great to work with Kevin Durant and Rick Kleinman, who produced the project. They jump-started my career,” he said. “Without that project, I wouldn't be here today. That got me on Showtime and Paramount with my first project out of the gate. “

“At the time, Showtime was producing several sports documentaries, and Comeback opened up the door for me,” he continued. “It was great working with them. They're great partners, and I’m still grateful to them to this day.”

On Nothing But A Winner, Jenkins chronicles one of the most renowned college sports programs at the University of Alabama. The project was a tall task, but Jenkins was more than ready for the challenge. Following his three years of in-depth research, he even became a fan of the Crimson Tide.

“It's the biggest story in college football history. I don't know how I got it, man. I'm just a young guy in the early parts of my career, and now I'm doing the Alabama story. So it's been crazy,” Jenkins said.

When asked if he would choose either Bear Bryant or Nick Saban as the school’s greatest coach, Jenkins shared that you couldn’t go wrong with either one. Both have impeccable resumes and are considered two of the greatest coaches in the history of college football, but he’s partial to Saban.

“Of course, I'm going with Saban because that's who I saw and who I grew up with. But learning about Bear Bryant, they are equals. Bear dominated the SEC (Southeastern Conference), the best conference at the toughest time in integration,” he said.

One component of Bryant’s legacy that stunned Jenkins during his research was his emphasis on education and the policies he enacted to create generational change.

“What blew me away was when I found out that if you played for Bear Bryant, your children could go to the school for free. No matter what color you are, your children get to go to school for free,” Jenkins said. “I've never heard of anything like that in any university. That was the biggest thing that I learned about Bear, and it really shook me up.”

To tell the story of all those brave Black players who broke the color barrier at Alabama is Jenkins' most incredible honor. He spoke about the monumental 1970 game against the University of Southern California (USC) and Alabama, where an integrated Trojans team, led by a dominant performance from Black running back Sam Cunningham, defeated the all-white Alabama. The moment forever shifted college football as Alabama began recruiting Black players to compete with the rest of the country.

“I get emotional just thinking about it because when I interviewed these guys, who weren't even on the Alabama team yet,  it meant so much for them to beat Alabama,” he said.”It was a pleasure for me to sit down with these guys who are the real heroes.”

“That USC team and Jim McKay took a stand. He had all Black people in the background. He knew that if you wanted to win, you'd better let the Black people play,” Jenkins added. “That's why they were so good. It’s such a blessing to be able to tell their story.”

As is the case with all of Jenkins’ work, Nothing But A Winner examines the societal structures where sports are played. According to Jenkins, football is just a piece of the larger narrative.

“I want people to know this isn't just a football movie. This is a movie about life. This is about life principles that can help anybody. If you drive trucks, make clothes, or if you’re an author, this can help you,” Jenkins explained. “I want everybody to see it because of what this story means to America. It’s much bigger than just a football game.”

Nothing But A Winner is currently in theaters.