He thought of the name in high school, then used it to create a website. His new Redskins ballcap had that address written on the side (www.hanktime.com). There’s also a tattoo on his right bicep with the same moniker, Hank Time, with a football in-between. Redskins rookie receiver Leonard Hankerson is not shy about sharing his self-confidence.
Just don’t expect him to be another prima donna receiver.
“I have fun, but I don’t do much,” he said. “I just go out and play the game.”
Not that teammates would mind if he played with a little extra personality.
“The No. 1 thing that sticks out is the kid wants it,” quarterback John Beck said. “He wants to go extra. I love people that want to put in extra time. If he has swagger with him, that’s great. You have to be like that.”
Hankerson indeed worked out with Beck for parts of three days in San Diego earlier this month. Hankerson went early so he could get time in with Beck. After the Redskins minicamp workout Wednesday, he caught passes from Beck for another 10 or so minutes.
He might not want to display that swagger, but he’s happy to show his hands — largest in the draft, according to coach Mike Shanahan. They measure 10 5/8 inches. And they allowed him to palm a ball starting around age 10.
“That’s my patented move, catch the ball one-handed,” Hankerson said. “I love to do it. I work on it in practice. There’s nothing better than catching the ball one-handed.”
Said Beck, “He had a catch on the left side [Wednesday] where he showed his strength. I’m telling him in the NFL, you’ll have guys draped on your back so you have to have huge hands.”
But fellow wideout Anthony Armstrong said those one-handed grabs are great. However …
“It’s because your technique was bad at this point [early in the route] that you had to catch it one-handed,” he said. “If you fix that it’ll make it an easier catch for you and maybe you can turn up and score.”
Meanwhile, Hankerson wants to do well if for no other reason than to prove that he should have been selected much higher. Yes, he knows that eight wideouts were picked ahead of him. Yes, he knows their names. He rattled off the first seven rather quickly, before stumbling momentarily on Boise State’s Austin Pettis.
“Everyone in the draft has a chip on the shoulder,” he said. “If you’re not the No. 1 pick, you’ll have a chip on your shoulder. From my standpoint eight other receivers went before me. I’ll always think highly of myself. That’s what it’s all about, going out and being a competitor. If you’re a competitor you always consider yourself at the top.”
