This time last year, the Washington Redskins were preparing to select Heisman-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Even with Griffin III in the fold, few were picking the Burgundy and Gold to climb out of the cellar of the NFC East, especially with a defending Super Bowl Champion on the schedule for two different tilts.

Well we all know that the Redskins ended up being the breakout team of the 2012 NFL season, storming into the playoffs by the way of a miraculous seven-game winning streak to end the season and besting their division rivals with a 5-1 record against the NFC East.

With OTAs officially underway at Redskins Park, find out who ESPN’s Matt Williamson believes will be the breakout player for the 2013 campaign including a video of his best play of the 2012 season here:

Williamson believes that wide receiver Leonard Hankerson will be the Redskins breakout performer in 2013.

 ”I do think Hankerson should be in line for a much bigger role and his skill set fits what Mike Shanahan wants to do with this offensive attack.”

In the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins selected the University of Miami prospect with the 79th overall pick. Before Hankerson went down with multiple injuries during his rookie season, he lit up the Miami’s professional team with eight catches for 106 yards in only his second career start.

Hankerson picked up right where he left off, as his first catch of the 2013 campaign was a 68-touchdown at the St. Louis Rams in Week 2.

In Washington’s first home game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Hankerson hauled in four catches, all for first downs. Quickly, he showed the Redskins and the rest of the league that he was a threat to move the chains each time he touched the ball.

In a Week 14 showdown of two eventual playoff participants, Hankerson showed the Baltimore Ravens just how clutch he can be with the pigskin in his possession. He would catch four balls on the day for 67 yards, and once again, proved that he can be a play maker when given the opportunity.

His finally catch, though, may have been the most important play of the season.

With the Redskins down eight late in the fourth quarter and the ball on their own 15-yard line, time was ticking on tying the affair. Hankerson, however, wasn’t concerned with the time crunch. On quarterback Kirk Cousins’s first pass attempt of the game, No.12 connect with N0. 85 for a 15 yard gain that would set up the game-tying touchdown on the next play.

The next week, Hankerson had a career game, grabbing two touchdown catches including a marvelous 54-yard juggling act in triple coverage!

Hankerson’s importance in the Redskins read-option offense, however, may extend beyond catching the ball in 2013.

“First of all, wide receivers must be very good blockers in this offense. Hankerson has the size and overall physicality to develop into a very good edge blocker.”

With record-setting running back Alfred Morris and the return of Roy Helu Jr., expect for Hankerson and the rest of the receiving core to be blocking for the tandem as the two look to continue their dominance between the tackles as well as on the edge.

Ultimately, Williamson believes that Hankerson’s talents are best suited in short-yardage situations.

“He also is built to run quick-hitting routes like slants — which work really well off Washington’s fantastic play-action game — and to do something after the catch with a physical running style.”

So Redskins Nation, how do you think Hankerson will do in his third season in the DMV?

Since it’s not football season and there’s no Redskins football on TV, let’s assume that everyone’s attention has turned, at least for the next three weeks, to the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Call it crazy but March Madness is a force to be reckoned with at this time of year because of all the pageantry surrounding nail-biting finishes, Cinderella stories and upsets galore.

The bottom line is that the tournament is arguably one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year, other than the Super Bowl, and captivates audiences across the Nation.

Why try to fight it? Plus, Redskins players seem to be having some fun with the tournament so why can’t we?

Under further review, a total of 20 Redskins players attended schools that were part of the original field of 68 when the tournament kicked off.

Michigan State- QB Kirk Cousins; California- LS Nick Sundberg; Missouri- DT Dominique Hamilton; Temple – G Pat Boyle; Miami – WR Leonard Hankerson, FS Brandon Meriweather, WR Santana Moss; Kansas St – LB Rob Jackson; Illinois – T Tony Pashos; Colorado – OT Tyler Polumbus; Florida – G Maurice Hurt; Oklahoma- G Chris Chester, Trent Williams; UCLA- K Kai Forbath, TE Logan Paulsen; Villanova – FB Darrel Young; Syracuse – FS Tanard Jackson; Ohio State – DE Doug Worthington; Arizona – LB Ricky Elmore; Kansas – WR Dezmon Briscoe

The untold story is that seven of those schools have advanced to the Sweet 16 meaning that Redskins players have some sort of attachment or representation to almost half of the schools still standing. That being said, there may be some inter-squad battles going on at Redskins Park this week since we’re sure school spirit will be abound.

And if there are shots taken at teammates via Twitter (all in good fun of course) then no fear because we’ll be sure to monitor the situation closely so that we can report back to the fans! The fun part for sure will be watching to see how it all transpires over the next few weeks.

As far as the Redskins players competing in our Redskins Bracket Challenge are concerned, well it hasn’t exactly all been rainbows and roses for their brackets. We have over 3,365 total entries in our Washington Redskins Bracket Challenge on ESPN.com and below is where YOUR Redskins currently rank!

• QB Robert Griffin III – 121st Place
• LB Ryan Kerrigan – 245th Place
• WR Leonard Hankerson – 1,020th Place
• CB Josh Wilson – 1,951st Place
• TE Niles Paul – 2,197th Place

For Griffin III and Kerrigan, there’s still an outside chance at making a late run. However, for Wilson, Paul and Hankerson, it may be time to say better luck next year.

If we go by Josh Wilson’s Instagram account (joshwilson26) and Infographic (above), even he acknowledges that his bracket has been busted!

But don’t worry Josh, you’re not alone! In fact, zero perfect brackets remain out of 8.15 million brackets filled out via ESPN.com’s annual Men’s Tournament Challenge. Yes, Zero, and only 0.4% (30,093) brackets correctly picked FGCU & LaSalle to reach the Sweet 16. All we can say to that is better luck next year.

Ryan Kerrigan was another one of the five players who decided to test his knowledge of basketball and compete against Redskins fans in the Redskins Bracket Challenge. If you check the standings, he’s not in bad shape and last week tweeted about his desire to see a #16 seed upset a #1 seed.

I really wish this would be the year a 16 seed wins a game #MarchMadness—
Ryan Kerrigan (@RyanKerrigan91) March 21, 2013

Sorry Ryan, not this year, but after a first round scare from #16 Southern, Gonzaga did go down to #9 seeded Wichita State – a historically admirable foe come tournament time.

The five players above aren’t the only Redskins players following the tournament. WR Dezmon Briscoe retweeted Cincinnati Bengals CB Brandon Ghee sharing a feeling which most of us can probably relate.

R.I.P NCAA Bracket—
Brandon Ghee (@BGhee) March 23, 2013

All of that said, it still all boils down to YOU the fans! Remember that there is still an autographed Robert Griffin III jersey up for grabs so make sure to follow all of the Redskins Bracket Madness including updated standings at www.redskins.com/brackets. Click here for more on the official rules and how to win.

Also, don’t forget to cast your vote for the best Redskins player bracket! We have already created the tweets, all you have to do is click “vote”.

Thanks Redskins fans for your continued support. Hail to the Redskins!

On Saturday, the Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens tangled for the second time in months. For those of you that don’t recall how the events unraveled between the two teams in their first encounter, just check out this video as a reminder.

On this day, the two franchise that play a mere 30 miles away from each other on Sundays during the season, were showcasing their talents in a different sports arena where the final score meant literally nothing.

Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith was holding his third annual Torrey Smith Foundation Charity Basketball Game and invited some of the NFC East champs to do battle at the rim. He and the rest of hims teammates were hoping to extract revenge for their lost at FedExField and more importantly, to raise money for his foundation.

Find out how the game when here:

The game was played just a few miles from Redskins Park at Stafford Senior High School in Fredricksburg, Virginia. Tickets sold for $10 and within minutes, the place was sold out. All proceeds from the tickets sales went to Smith’s foundation which raises money for at-risk youth.

University of Miami product Leonard Hankerson extended his alma mater’s excellent weekend on the hardwood as he was selected as a captain against a squad led by Smith.

While Smith and Hankerson were the headline players for the Ravens and Redskins, each player was supported by a deep pool of talented teammates looking to throwdown on their opponents.

As seen above, Josh Morgan and Trent Williams were two Redskins looking to translate their success from the field to the court, and while we don’t have video footage of the game, I can’t help but notice that they look like this famous pair of ballers.

No word on how the two performed together, but we can tell you that they look slightly more happy to be together than that dysfunctional duo.

The trio of Redskins stars were also joined by former Redskins Anthony Armstrong and Brandon Banks as they looked to take down the Super Bowl XLVII champs.

Growing up, athletes often play up to three sports a year and successively translate their games from the field to the court with relative ease. Some, however, know that their days of dominance in multiple sports ends shortly after their high school days.

For Maurice Hurt, Perry Riley and Jordan Bernstine this may have been the case, as they were spotted in the gym supporting their fellow Burgundy and Gold teammates from the sidelines.

While the Redskins would ultimately fall short at the final buzzer, those in attendance were happy to raise money for Smith’s foundation and with a packed house, the event may be moving to a bigger venue in the near future.

Hail to the Redskins and special thanks to Smith for allowing the Redskins participate!

(AP photos)

NFL.com senior analyst Gil Brandt today unveiled the two players from each NFC team who “must shine” for their teams to be successful.

These players, Brandt said, often fly under the radar, but can be just as important as its established superstars in getting their team to play in the postseason.

Which two players from the Redskins “must shine?”

Well, the photos above gave it away: wide receiver Leonard Hankerson and cornerback Josh Wilson.

Here’s what Brandt had to say about each Redskins player:

Hankerson:
“The Redskins passed 191 times more than they ran in 2011; with Robert Griffin III under center, this trend will continue. With his big-play ability, I think Hankerson has a bit more upside than high-profile addition Josh Morgan. The speedy long-strider will really open some eyes if he has the kind of year I envision.”

Wilson:
“The Redskins gave up 22 passing touchdowns last season, but not for a lack of effort by Wilson, who allowed just 36 of the 85 balls thrown his way to be caught (42.4 percent), according to STATS. The sixth-year veteran had a career campaign in 2011; if he can repeat that kind of production in 2012, Washington’s defense should be in good shape.”

It’s hard to argue against both players for the Redskins. Hankerson has been projected by many to have a breakout season in 2012, while Wilson is a key returner to a Redskins’ secondary that has much to prove this season.

When looking at the rest of the NFC East, here’s who Brandt points at as players that need to step up for their respective teams in 2012:

Dallas Cowboys: Andrew Holmes (wide receiver) and Barry Church (safety)
New York Giants: Will Beatty (offensive tackle) and Prince Amukamara (cornerback)
Philadelphia Eagles: Demetress Bell (offensive tackle) and Kurt Coleman (safety)

Washington Redskins’ wide receiver Leonard Hankerson was able to spread a little hope to some fans at Saturday’s training camp practice.

You probably remember the back story behind the second-year receiver’s “Hope Is Alive Today” drive, but if not, here’s a reminder.

On Saturday — at the Redskins’ annual Fan Appreciation Day, no less — Hankerson met with 10 lucky fans after practice and gave them his “Hope Is Alive Today” t-shirt.

Here’s a photo gallery from the meet-and-greet:

The fans were selected via a Redskins’ social media drive, and is just one of several planned special giveaways via our Twitter, Facebook and Google+ pages. So stay tuned.

“Hope is Alive Today” is that message, and it’s something Hankerson often wears on a T-shirt around Redskins Park.

The message can be an inspiration to a variety of people, Hankerson said Friday afternoon.

“It could be for the football season around here, or it could be for little kids in the hospital,” the second-year wide receiver out of Miami said. “Anybody that’s going through a tough time or is down, we want them to know there’s always hope.”

Hankerson said the “Hope is Alive Today” message started off as a simple quote that a friend would include at the end of their emails.

“And then everybody kept saying, ‘That’s a great little line there,’” Hankerson said. “So we thought about putting it out there, putting it on shirts, and seeing where it goes.”

Hankerson has had recent personal experience to put the “Hope is Alive Today” message into play after he suffered a torn labrum last season during a breakout performance against the Miami Dolphins. At the time of his injury, the then-rookie had shredded the Dolphins’ secondary for eight catches for 106 yards.

Since that time, Hankerson has recovered to the point of being considered one of the team’s breakout players to watch in 2012.

“There’s always hope to come back from something like that,” he said.

Get involved
Stay tuned to the Redskins Blog and our Facebook and Twitter accounts for your chance to win a “Hope Is Alive Today” T-shirt and to meet Leonard Hankerson at training camp.

Leonard Hankerson’s name continues to surface as a possible breakout player to watch in 2012.

Though the second-year Washington Redskins receiver caught just 13 passes for 163 yards last season in a rookie campaign ended prematurely by a hip injury, many experts look at a couple of factors favoring Hankerson in 2012: His football makeup (a 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame) and the fact that talented rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III is expected to immediately improve the Redskins’ passing attack.

NFL.com writer Marc Sessler was the latest to note Hankerson’s potential. In this NFL.com piece, Sessler believes Hankerson is set for a “sophomore jump:”

“Before he was lost with a hip injury, Hankerson gained the confidence of the Redskins coaching staff through his performance in practice and two intriguing starts,” Sessler wrote. “In the second of those, we saw Hankerson tear up the Miami Dolphins with eight catches for 106 yards.”

Sessler also touched on the Griffin III effect:

“Griffin was highly accurate at Baylor and used the weapons around him. All Redskins wideouts should see a boost with the rookie QB at the controls, but Hankerson, especially, could see his career altered by RG3′s arrival. Hankerson’s not a household name here in June, but riding Griffin’s coattails could thrust him into the lights.”

Sessler certainly can’t claim to be the first to predict a big season for Hankerson. ESPN’s Mel Kiper wrote May 18 in an ESPN.com Insider piece that Hankerson should be primed for a breakout 2012 season:

“I thought Hankerson was just about to really get it going last year when a hip injury derailed his season. While the Redskins went out and made several moves at wide receiver, I think Hankerson could put up big numbers as a down-the-field threat in Mike Shanahan’s offense. He’s a bigger target, something this offense lacks otherwise, outside of tight end Fred Davis.”

Not everybody has hopped on the Hankerson bandwagon, however. ESPN’s Adam Schefter thinks Hankerson has some work to do to simply get on the field ahead of the team’s other receivers.

“Keep in mind, Washington invested a lot of money into Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan and has big hopes for each of those receivers,” Schefter wrote in this Insider piece for ESPN.com. “Plus, the Redskins still have Santana Moss. Now maybe Hankerson is good enough that he busts through that logjam at the position, but I don’t see that happening this season.”

It’ll definitely be interesting to see what a healthy Hankerson can do with Griffin III under center. Even if Hankerson does eventually slide into the slot position, that doesn’t necessarily mean he can’t put up big numbers there.

Just ask New York Giants’ wide receiver Victor Cruz about that very topic. He only helped lead the Giants to a Super Bowl title last season. Oh, and who was his counterpart in that game? New England Patriots’ wide receiver Wes Welker, who has made a living out of burning defenses out of the slot.

(via hanktime85 on Instagram)

We’ve all heard about the robust throwing arms on Redskins’ rookie quarterbacks Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins, but now we have photo proof.

After what appears to be a gritty throwing session with the quarterbacks, wide receiver Leonard Hankerson showed off exactly how hard Griffin III and Cousins can wing it late last week on his Instagram page.

The photo Hankerson posted shows that the session left one of his gloves with a huge tear. Hankerson had this to say about it:

“Out here grinding… This is what #RG3 and #Kirk did to my glove”

I’m sure this won’t be the last time we see this. Griffin III — the No. 2 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft — has already been nicknamed “The Arm” by some teammates, while Cousins’ elite arm strength was certainly one of the reasons the Redskins selected him in the fourth round in April.

The offeseason additions of wide receivers Pierre Garçon and Josh Morgan could pay big dividends for Redskins’ receiver Leonard Hankerson.

With Garçon, Morgan and Hankerson among a talented nucleus of receivers that also includes Anthony Armstrong, Santana Moss, Terrence Austin and others, some experts — like ESPN’s Mel Kiper — think Hankerson could be primed for a breakout season as a serious deep threat in 2012.

Kiper recently listed his players “prepped to make a leap” in their second year in the NFL for a piece with ESPN.com. The 12 players who made the list, Kiper said, didn’t have a “really great rookie year,” but could “make a big jump in their second year.”

The lone Redskin on Kiper’s list was Hankerson, the 6-2 receiver out of the University of Miami. Here’s what Kiper had to say about Hankerson’s prospects for the 2012 season:

“I thought Hankerson was just about to really get it going last year when a hip injury derailed his season. While the Redskins went out and made several moves at wide receiver, I think Hankerson could put up big numbers as a down-the-field threat in Mike Shanahan’s offense. He’s a bigger target, something this offense lacks otherwise, outside of tight end Fred Davis.”

In his rookie season in 2011, Hankerson caught 13 passes for 163 yards — good enough for 12.5 yards per reception.

Also making the list from the NFC East were New York Giants’ defensive tackle Marvin Austin and Dallas Cowboys’ offensive lineman Tyron Smith.

The nine other players included:

• - Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, New York Jets;
• - Jake Locker, QB, Tennessee Titans;
• - Marcell Dareus, DT, Buffalo Bills;
• - Robert Quinn, DE, St. Louis Rams;
• - Kyle Rudolph, TE, Minnesota Vikings;
• - Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers;
• - Justin Houston, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs;
• - Clyde Gates, WR, Miami Dolphins; and
• - Jimmy Smith, CB, Baltimore Ravens

Here’s a link to the article. To see the whole piece, you must be subscribed to ESPN Insider.

Redskins’ alumni, current players and executive vice president/general manager Bruce Allen were present Friday for the eighth annual Mickey Steele Celebrity Golf Tournament.

The tournament is named in honor of Mickey Steele, a Maryland native, sports enthusiast and business owner, who in 2004 lost his battle to Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

In remembrance of Steele, his friends, family and former co-workers participate in the tournament annually to raise money for children’s charities.

The Redskins’ alumni at the event included Mike Bragg, Larry Brown, Gary Clark, Pat Fischer, Joe Jacoby, Billy Kilmer, Chip Lohmiller, Rich Milot, Mike Nelms, Ricky Sanders, George Starke, Charley Taylor, Doc Walker, Donnie Warren and many others.

Super Bowl XXXVI MVP-winning quarterback Mark Rypien also took part in the event, which was sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and benefits programs of the Rypien Foundation and the youth programs of the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation.

Allen was joined at the tournament by current Redskins’ wide receiver Leonard Hankerson.

This year’s Mickey Steele Celebrity Golf Tournament was played at Queenstown Harbor Golf Links in Queenstown, Md.

Here’s a couple other shots from this tremendous outing:

Leonard Hankerson

Mark Rypien