Jan. 24, 2006
Lobo wide receiver Hank Baskett recently completed a chat session with ESPN.com from the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Click the link below to read what Hank had to say as he and teammate Ryan Cook prepare for the prestigious college football all-star game on Saturday, Jan. 28. The game will be televised live on ESPN at 1 p.m. (MST).
Transcripts of Baskett Chat With ESPN.com
For the first time in program history, New Mexico has two players at the Senior Bowl. Baskett and Cook, both on the South roster, are 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 (North) and San Francisco 49ers (South) 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.
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.