Kevin Basped facts for kids

Kevin Basped (born May 19, 1988) is a former American football player. He played as a linebacker, a position on the defense. Kevin Basped joined the New York Jets in 2010 as an undrafted free agent. Before playing professionally, he played college football for the Nevada Wolf Pack.

Early Life and High School Football

Kevin Basped was born in Sacramento, California. He was raised by his father, Frances Basped, and his adoptive mother, Kathy Navarro. Kevin went to Florin High School where he was a talented athlete.

Playing at Florin High School

At Florin High, Kevin played both offense and defense. He was a defensive end and a tight end. In his senior year in 2005, he made 18 tackles. He also caught 15 passes for 259 yards. Kevin recovered three fumbles and blocked one punt. Besides football, he also competed in track & field.

College Football Career at Nevada

After high school, Kevin Basped went to the University of Nevada. He did not play in the 2006 season. This is called a redshirt year, which allows players to practice without using a year of eligibility.

First Season on the Field (2007)

In 2007, Kevin played in 13 games for Nevada. He started in five of those games. He recorded 48 tackles and 4.0 sacks. He also forced two fumbles and recovered one fumble. Kevin was one of the best players in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). He ranked sixth in the conference for tackles that stopped the opponent from gaining yards.

Standout Year (2008)

In 2008, Nevada got a new defensive coordinator, Nigel Burton. He brought in a new defensive plan called the 4–3 scheme. This plan used the speed of players like Kevin Basped and Dontay Moch. They would rush from the edges of the field. That season, Kevin played in all 13 games. He made 50 tackles, with 18.5 of them stopping the opponent for a loss. He also had 10.0 sacks, broke up three passes, and forced three fumbles. Kevin was tied for 21st in the entire nation for quarterback sacks. The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) recognized his great performance. They named him a first-team All-WAC defensive lineman.

Professional Football Journey

After his successful college career, Kevin Basped looked to play in the NFL. Many experts thought he would be picked in the 5th to 7th round of the 2010 NFL draft.

Joining the New York Jets

Kevin was not chosen in the 2010 NFL Draft. However, the New York Jets signed him as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2010. This meant he got a chance to try out for the team. Unfortunately, the Jets decided to release him on August 8, 2010. The coaches explained that his knee injuries were a big concern. This was shown on the HBO reality show Hard Knocks.

Playing for the Spokane Shock

Later in his career, Kevin Basped joined the Spokane Shock. This team is part of the Arena Football League. He was assigned to the Spokane Shock on December 20, 2013.