Hank Baskett life and biography

Henry Randall "Hank" Baskett is an American professional football player for the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. He currently plays as a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.

On March 3, 2011 Baskett was not tendered a contract offer by the Vikings to play for them in the 2011 season. Under league rules Baskett is now an unrestricted free agent.

Baskett was born and raised in Clovis, New Mexico. He attended Clovis High School and was an excellent student, graduating in 2001 with a 4.0 GPA. He lettered in football, basketball, and track. In track, Baskett held a state-record leap of 7 feet (2.1 m) in high jump at the 2000 state track meet in Albuquerque. In football, he was an All-State selection as both a wide receiver and as a punter.

When Baskett attended the University of New Mexico, he was its football team's leading receiver in 2004 and 2005, earning him the Reese Leroy Hill Memorial Award for being the team's Offensive Player Of The Year during those years. Additionally, he earned All-Mountain West Conference (MWC) honors as a senior, posting 67 receptions for 1,071 yards and nine touchdowns. A four-time all-academic MWC honoree, he graduated with a degree in General Management.

Pro Career:

Baskett originally signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a rookie undrafted free agent in 2006 out of the University of New Mexico and was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for wide receiver Billy McMullen.

Baskett had 112 receiving yards and one touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys and 177 receiving yards and one touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons. For his performance in these games, Baskett was awarded rookie of the week honors. He completed his rookie season with 22 receptions for 464 yards (21.1 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. He was named the 2007 special teams Most Valuable Player (MVP).

In 2008 he started another six games playing in 16 to record 33 receptions, 440 yards, and three touchdowns, for a 13.3 yard average.

He headed into the 2009 offseason as a restricted free agent. He was tendered a one-year contract on February 23. Because the Eagles had been carrying seven wide receivers, he was made expendable and released on September 15, 2009, to make room for Michael Vick to fit on the 53-man roster.

On September 17, 2009, Baskett signed a one-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts after Anthony Gonzalez suffered a knee injury. On February 8, 2010, during Super Bowl XLIV versus the New Orleans Saints, Baskett failed to corral an onside kick at the start of the second half, which led to a Saints touchdown and changed the momentum of the game. New Orleans won the game 31-17. On March 5, 2010, Baskett was declared a free agent.

On March 12, 2010, Baskett signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles for $800,000. He was released on September 21, 2010.

On September 22, 2010, Baskett re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

Career history:

Minnesota Vikings (2006)
Philadelphia Eagles (2006–2009)
Indianapolis Colts (2009)
Philadelphia Eagles (2010)
Minnesota Vikings (2010)
Virginia Destroyers (2011-present)

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