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Fast track to NFL for Florin lineman
http://www.egcitizen.com/articles/2010/04/13/sports/doc4bc5076a2efbb090673576.txt
Courtesy photos/Mike Morales - Kevin Basped was one of the top sack leaders in California during his senior season at Florin in 2005.
Only 7 years of organized football, Basped expected to be drafted
By Jon Gudel - Sports Editor
Published: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 5:12 PM PDT
Kevin Basped nearly quit playing football.
Florin High School varsity coach Mike Morales remembers Basped deciding to play again only because he knew Morales previously as a member of former head coach Ed Johnson’s staff.
Basped, a 2006 graduate of Florin, has only played seven years of organized football. He played for three different high school coaches, including Morales, Johnson and P.J. Therialt.
His winding football journey has taken him down a unique path. From a difficult childhood, to struggling academically in high school and now a chance to potentially play in the NFL.
“Kevin is a great kid that had to overcome a lot of obstacles as he was growing up,” said Morales. “He literally didn’t know where his next meal was coming from, and therefore had to eat anything there was in the house.”
According to Morales, Basped said that usually meant “junk food.” As a freshman and sophomore at Florin, Basped was part of the school’s insights program for at-risk students that have “potential to do well in school but were struggling coming into high school – under a 2.0 GPA,” Morales wrote in an email to the Citizen.
Basped attended night and summer school his junior and season years to become NCAA eligible.
His extra work paid off.
Projected as a late-round pick in this month’s NFL Draft, Basped left college early to begin his professional career – one that didn’t even seem possible just five years ago.
Basped was one of 66 defensive linemen to participate at the NFL Combine, a four-day scouting format for NFL executives to evaluate possible draft selections.
Basped’s 40-yard dash time of 4.72 was the 10th fastest time of any defensive lineman, and he bench-pressed 225 pounds 26 times - seventh best.
Basped measured at 6-4, two inches shorter than his listed measurement at Nevada, but had added 10 pounds of muscle to increase to 258.
He left Nevada after his junior season, when he recorded 9 ½ sacks and 12 ½ tackles for loss last season. He was a second-team All-WAC selection.
“What sets Kevin apart was his work ethic and his motor,” said Morales. “He never stopped on any play, and made a ton of plays on both sides of the ball. Like most Florin students, he never played during youth ball, so he was/is limited as far as years playing, and he still has a ton to learn about the game.”
Basped led California in sacks his senior season with 18 in 10 regular season games. Others surpassed his total because of postseason games.
After redshirting as a freshman at Nevada, he combined for 14 sacks over the next two seasons and tied for 10th nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.54) his sophomore season.
“Overall, I think he will get drafted late, and will be a project,” said Morales. “I am hoping that the team he goes to is willing to spend time with him and develop him to his full potential.”
Basped was not available for comment.
The NFL Draft will be televised in primetime for the first-time ever on Apr. 22. The first round will be broadcasted on ESPN beginning at 4:30 p.m.
The second and third rounds are scheduled for Friday, Apr. 23, and rounds four through seven the next day.
http://www.egcitizen.com/articles/2010/04/13/sports/doc4bc5076a2efbb090673576.txt
Courtesy photos/Mike Morales - Kevin Basped was one of the top sack leaders in California during his senior season at Florin in 2005.
Only 7 years of organized football, Basped expected to be drafted
By Jon Gudel - Sports Editor
Published: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 5:12 PM PDT
Kevin Basped nearly quit playing football.
Florin High School varsity coach Mike Morales remembers Basped deciding to play again only because he knew Morales previously as a member of former head coach Ed Johnson’s staff.
Basped, a 2006 graduate of Florin, has only played seven years of organized football. He played for three different high school coaches, including Morales, Johnson and P.J. Therialt.
His winding football journey has taken him down a unique path. From a difficult childhood, to struggling academically in high school and now a chance to potentially play in the NFL.
“Kevin is a great kid that had to overcome a lot of obstacles as he was growing up,” said Morales. “He literally didn’t know where his next meal was coming from, and therefore had to eat anything there was in the house.”
According to Morales, Basped said that usually meant “junk food.” As a freshman and sophomore at Florin, Basped was part of the school’s insights program for at-risk students that have “potential to do well in school but were struggling coming into high school – under a 2.0 GPA,” Morales wrote in an email to the Citizen.
Basped attended night and summer school his junior and season years to become NCAA eligible.
His extra work paid off.
Projected as a late-round pick in this month’s NFL Draft, Basped left college early to begin his professional career – one that didn’t even seem possible just five years ago.
Basped was one of 66 defensive linemen to participate at the NFL Combine, a four-day scouting format for NFL executives to evaluate possible draft selections.
Basped’s 40-yard dash time of 4.72 was the 10th fastest time of any defensive lineman, and he bench-pressed 225 pounds 26 times - seventh best.
Basped measured at 6-4, two inches shorter than his listed measurement at Nevada, but had added 10 pounds of muscle to increase to 258.
He left Nevada after his junior season, when he recorded 9 ½ sacks and 12 ½ tackles for loss last season. He was a second-team All-WAC selection.
“What sets Kevin apart was his work ethic and his motor,” said Morales. “He never stopped on any play, and made a ton of plays on both sides of the ball. Like most Florin students, he never played during youth ball, so he was/is limited as far as years playing, and he still has a ton to learn about the game.”
Basped led California in sacks his senior season with 18 in 10 regular season games. Others surpassed his total because of postseason games.
After redshirting as a freshman at Nevada, he combined for 14 sacks over the next two seasons and tied for 10th nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.54) his sophomore season.
“Overall, I think he will get drafted late, and will be a project,” said Morales. “I am hoping that the team he goes to is willing to spend time with him and develop him to his full potential.”
Basped was not available for comment.
The NFL Draft will be televised in primetime for the first-time ever on Apr. 22. The first round will be broadcasted on ESPN beginning at 4:30 p.m.
The second and third rounds are scheduled for Friday, Apr. 23, and rounds four through seven the next day.