Nov. 16, 2005
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation announced on Tuesday that University of New Mexico senior Hank Baskett III is one of 15 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award (presented annually to the nation’s outstanding college football receiver). Baskett leads the Mountain West Conference and is ranked fifth in the country with an average of 106.3 receiving yards per game.
The Clovis, N.M. native’s 1,063 yards this season is the sixth-highest in UNM history, while his 65 receptions are No. 8 on the school single season list. He is also tied for fourth all-time with nine touchdown catches this fall. Baskett has gone over 100 yards receiving in five games this year and three times in the past five weeks. He is averaging 122.3 yards (367 total), 6.7 receptions (20 total), and has 4 TDs in his last three games.
A relative unknown outside of New Mexico entering the season, the 6-4, 220-pound Baskett has seen his NFL stock soar and is ranked by ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. as the No. 2 senior wide receiver in the country and 24st-best senior player overall. He has accepted an invitation to play in the prestigious Senior Bowl college all-star game following the season.
Baskett has 138 receptions for 2,280 yards and 17 TDs, averaging an impressive 16.5 yards per catch in his career. He ranks third all-time at UNM in receiving yards, fourth in receptions, and is second in receiving TDs. He has 9 100-yard receiving games in his career and has gone over the century mark in 7 of his last 13 games. He has also caught at least one pass in 23-straight games.
A three-time academic all-MWC honoree and a first team academic all-district selection, Baskett will graduate in December with a degree in General Management.
Biletnikoff Award Semifinalists
Calvin Johnson – Georgia Institute of Technology
Chad Jackson- University of Florida
Charles Sharon- Bowling Green State University
Demetrius Williams – University of Oregon
Derek Hagan- Arizona State University
Dwayne Jarrett- University of Southern California
Greg Jennings – Western Michigan University
Hank Baskett III – University of New Mexico
Jason Avant – University of Michigan
Jason Hill – Washington State University
Jeff Smardzija – University of Notre Dame
Jovon Bouknight – University of Wyoming
Martin Nance – Miami University, Ohio
Mike Hass – Oregon State University
Steve Smith – University of Southern California