Every college football player has a dream of playing for the National Football League, but not many get a chance.
Idrees Bashir, last season's starting free safety for the University of Memphis football team, hopes that he will have the chance to fulfill his dream and play professionally.
Bashir announced last Friday that he planned to forego his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
In the 2000 season, Bashir recorded 90 tackles and recovered two interceptions -- one of which resulted in a touchdown.
He also ran a fumble back for a touchdown and led the team in pass breakups.
In his college career, Bashir was a standout athlete. He was voted to the Conference USA All-Freshman team in 1998, became a starter at free safety and played in nine games in his freshman season.
Bashir logged double-digit tackles in his first collegiate game and had ten stops against Ole Miss, including six solo tackles.
Bashir registered nine tackles in a win over Cincinnati and was credited with seven tackles in the Southern Mississippi contest. He finished his first season with 51 total tackles, including 28 solo, and was the team's sixth leading tackler as a freshman.
As a sophomore, Bashir was a starter at strong safety. He started all 11 games and finished the season as the team's third leading tackler.
Bashir was credited with 71 tackles, including 35 solo hits, one pass interception, five pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.
He opened the 1999 season with five tackles and a fumble recovery in the Ole Miss game, then tallied 11 tackles the following week against Mississippi State.
Bashir picked up four hits and a fumble recovery in the near upset of Tennessee.
He then had a career high 12 tackles in the Missouri game, and nine tackles playing Cincinnati in the season finale.
He is known for his exceptional speed, (he runs a 4.3 in the 40 meter dash) and has enough size to go up against bigger receivers and backs.
He said that after talking to his mother, Faye Bashir, he sat down and weighed his options before deciding that entering the NFL draft was the best thing for him to do.
"I felt like this was a good opportunity for me," he said. "Something I just couldn't pass up."
After his junior season, he sent the NFL his stats and they told him that he would probably be drafted in the third round.
He believes with a lot of hard work and help from above he could be selected higher.
"I am very excited," Bashir said. "I am working out and trying to stay at the top of my game. Every minute counts, and I am making the most of it."
Bashir said that his mother was the biggest influence in his decision.
"My mother is very special to me. She raised my two brothers and me all by herself."
With only 20 hours left in his degree, Bashir promised his mother that he would definitely finish his education.
"I could never let my mother down. Getting my degree is definitely something she wants me to do," he said.
Tiger offensive tackle Artis Hicks says that losing Bashir leaves a hole to be filled.
"We are going to miss him," Hicks said. "He has a lot of talent. It will be hard to fill his shoes, but I am sure someone is ready for the challenge."
