Jan. 18, 2006
University of New Mexico fullback Adrian Byrd football team was added to the roster of the East-West Shrine Game today, giving New Mexico seven seniors who have or will compete in postseason all-star games this year. Two players are appearing in the prestigious Senior Bowl for the first time in program history.
Three Lobos traveled to Jackson, Miss. on Dec. 24 for the inaugural Magnolia Grid-Iron Classic, while running back DonTrell Moore is slated to play in the East-West Shrine Game. Moore, wide receiver Hank Baskett III, center Ryan Cook and offensive tackle Terrance Pennington have also been invited to the NFL Combine.
Pennington, linebacker Mike Mohoric and defensive lineman Marcus Parker opened the all-star season at the Magnolia Grid-Iron Classic on Christmas Eve. Mohoric was credited with two solo tackles and had a fumble recovery, while Parker had a solo tackle and two pass break-ups.
Organizers said they hope the Magnolia Classic will fill the void left by the defunct Blue-Gray Game, a one-time Christmas tradition since 1978, which was cancelled for the third time in four years.
Pennington will also play in the Las Vegas All-American Classic on Jan. 14. Former teammates Nick Speegle and Brandon Payne played in the 2005 All-American Classic. Speegle was later drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns, while Payne signed a free agent contract with the Detroit Lions.
Moore and Byrd will represent UNM at the 81st East-West Shrine Game, which will be played in San Antonio at the Alamodome on Saturday, Jan. 21. They are the third and fourth Lobos to play in the game under Rocky Long, joining fullback Jarrod Baxter (2002) and offensive guard Claude Terrell (2005). Both Baxter (5th round, Houston Texans) and Terrell (4th round, St. Louis Rams) were later selected in the National Football League Draft. The 2005 East-West Game featured 43 players, including Terrell, that were later selected in the NFL Draft. Moore and the West team will be led by current Texas A&M and former UNM head coach Dennis Franchione.
The East-West Shrine Game will be held outside of the San Francisco for the first time since its inception in 1925. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (MST) and the game will be nationally televised live on ESPN2.
For the first time in program history, New Mexico will have two players at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. on Saturday, Jan. 28. Baskett and Cook will be the 11th and 12th Lobos to play in the game, which is billed as football’s premier pre-draft event.
The Senior Bowl features the country’s best senior collegiate football stars and top NFL draft prospects on teams coached by the entire coaching staffs from two NFL teams. Practices are attended by over 700 general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, scouts and other front office personnel from the 32 NFL teams. The 2005 Senior Bowl rosters featured 83 NFL Draft picks, including 10 first round selections. The Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers will provide the coaching staffs for the two teams.
Baskett is the second UNM receiver to play in the Senior Bowl, along with former Atlanta Falcon standout Terance Mathis (1990). Cook is the first center and second Lobo offensive lineman invited to the game. Offensive tackle Ron Shipley played in the 1991 Senior Bowl and was later drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs. Baskett and Cook are the first Lobos in the game since Baxter played in 2002. Current Chicago Bears star linebacker Brian Urlacher was his team’s Defensive MVP at the 2000 Senior Bowl.
Now in its 55th year, the Senior Bowl will be nationally televised live on ESPN at 1 p.m. (MST).
In addition, Baskett, Cook, Moore and Pennington have been confirmed to take part in the 2006 NFL Draft Combine, Feb. 22-28, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. The annual timing and testing event for the NFL’s top draft prospects will be televised by the NFL Network.
The 2006 NFL Draft will be held in New York on April 22-23. Terrell and Speegle were the two Lobos selected last year.