2021 Senior Bowl Media: Wake Forest Carlos Basham Jr. Post Practice Interview

Yesterday was the last practice of the Senior Bowl before the big game. After practice, a select few players stayed around postgame for an interview and one was Wake Forset DL Carlos Basham Jr.

What was the biggest thing you learned this week? (Other reporter)

Basham Jr.: Definitely this week, hand placement. Coming from the ACC, going against guys from SEC Big 10  all the other conferences, they do things a little bit different out there. That’s the biggest thing I learned this week.

Who was the hardest person you went up against this week? (Other reporter)

Basham Jr.: Probably Alex Leatherwood when I was lining up on the end. Great technique, great size, athleticism. When I was playing inside, Trey Smith from Tennessee. He’s very strong at the point of attack. It was a great battle from both of them this week. 

With Matt Rhule already having experience coaching college football at Baylor and at Temple was it easier for you to adapt to his coaching style? (Kris Thomas ITH)

Basham Jr.: It wasn’t too hard for me. I get a good grasp of everything pretty much all the time. It was more so learning all these positions at once. In college one week I was learning defensive end and the next week it was happening. This week it was 3 positions at the same time.

What position do you still need to work on? (Other reporter)

Basham Jr.: In the league probably inside. Point of attack and hand placement obviously 

Why is your nickname “Boogie?” (Other reporter)

Basham Jr.: My mom’s best friend when she was younger used to babysit me, and she would hold me up and I would dance and she would say “he’s boogying, he’s boogying” and it stuck ever since.

What is with defensive ends in colleges wearing single-digit numbers? (Other reporter)

Basham Jr.: You can’t wear it in the league so might as well do it while you can.

This year being different because of a pandemic how important was it for you to come out and showcase yourself in the Senior Bowl? (Kris Thomas ITH)

Basham Jr.: It was very important for me because we only played 5 games this year due to COVID. It was a big opportunity for me to come this week and put on pads on October 30th because I caught COVID in November. We had a lot of games canceled so It was a big opportunity to come out here.

During your time in Wake Forest, what was it like going up against Trevor Lawerence? (Kris Thomas ITH)

Basham Jr.: With him, he’s a great competitor. Not a lot of QBs are 6’6 230-240 and can actually run. It was a great opportunity to go against him. I played him the three years he was there, got a good couple of hits on him each time. When we see each other we talk about it every time.

Are there any non-defensive ends you watch and you take their game and add it to yours? (Other Reporter)

Basham Jr.: A little bit of Aaron Donald. Just his explosiveness and how he gets off the ball and the point of attack.

With you having the chance to play alongside guys in other Power 5 conferences, which guys have you bonded with during this senior week? (Kris Thomas ITH)

Basham Jr.: This week I would say I bonded from the ACC Janarius Robinson. We got pretty close, we both played End and (Chauncey) Golston from Iowa. Pretty much all the guys who play end this week. We all sat together and bonded. My favorite is probably Malik Herring. He’s funny. His personality is very good. Every time he comes around, he smiles and makes everyone laugh. The whole room(defensive line) is good.

Have you found a new Netflix show to binge-watch during your Quarantine? (Kris Thomas ITH)

Basham Jr.: When I was quarantined, I watched every season of Law and Order SVU from season 1 to season 21.

Are you excited for Elliot Stabler to come back? (Kris Thomas ITH)

Basham Jr.: Yeah definitely, I’m waiting for that. 

What’s the biggest takeaway from the Senior Bowl this week? (Other Reporter)

Basham Jr.: As I close it out, for me picking up the little things on the way. Better ways to watch film, learning the pro-style offense and defense so this whole week for me has been good.

Writer

-By: Kris Thomas