Antoine Cason life and biography

Antoine Cason born July 9, 1986 in Long Beach, California, is a cornerback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He played collegiately for the Arizona Wildcats. Hailed as one of the best defensive backs in the Pac-10, Cason was selected 27th overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Cason's Career

Opportunity is knocking for Cason, who comes into camp penciled in as a starter at cornerback. Cason's field time the first two seasons has primarily been as a nickel corner. He's also seen extensive work on special teams. He's recorded four career interceptions, but to date the biggest included a 59-yard return for a touchdown to close out a 2008 late-season win in Tampa Bay. Cason's father, Wendell, was a defensive back at the University of Oregon and went on to play for the Atlanta Falcons. His brother, Dione, ran track at Washington State and cousin, Ken-yon Rambo, was a receiver at Ohio State before playing for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets. Another cousin, Aveion Cason, was an All-America tailback at Illinois State and played for the Detroit Lions, St.Louis Rams and Cowboys. All told, more than a dozen of Cason's family members have Division I college football experience. As a young man, Cason learned the value of community service. In San Diego, he's been one of the first to volunteer for community outreach. He has helped deliver food to needy families through the San Diego Food Bank. In college, he gave time to community service projects and even filmed a public service announcement for the school. His largest endeavor, however, was joining forces with former Wildcat teammate, Matt Brooks, to create a campaign to fight cancer known as "Cason Cares." Cason became involved after losing his grandfather, Royce Rambo, to cancer in February '06. The goal of Cason Cares was to raise money for cancer research. Cason and Brooks sold rubber wristbands for $3 apiece and the pair made a generous donation to the American Cancer Society before an Arizona men’s basketball game in December '07. Cason’s favorite hobby is bowling. He's also a fan of American muscle cars, particularly the Mustang.

TRANSACTION HISTORY: Chargers’ first-round pick (27), April 26, 2008...signed four-year contract, July 25, 2008.

2009: Sealed season-opening ESPN MNF win in OAK with late-game INT. 2008: First-career INT in end zone off Jay Cutler in 4Q Wk 2 at DEN…iced Dec. 21 victory at TB with 59-yard INT return for TD in late 4Q…season-high three STTs in Dec. 28 AFC West clinching win over DEN...paced squad with two STTs in Jan. 5 Wild Card Playoffs vs. IND...1Q sack of Ben Roethlisberger on 3rd-down play late in 1Q of Divisional Playoffs at PIT Jan. 11.

COLLEGE: 2007 Jim Thorpe Award…finished career with 15 INT, fourth-most in school history...set school records for return yards (349) and return average (23.3)…2007 Walter Camp first-team All-America …first-team All-Pac-10 in 2006-07...Pac-10 POW following games against Oregon (2007), Washington State (2006), Cal (2006) and NAU (2004)...NAU game was first of career...honorable mention all-conference as frosh and soph...Sporting News and FWA Frosh All-America and All-Pac-10…played from 2004-07…ran track from 2006-07 (200 and 4x100 meter relay)…political science major…co-President of U of Student-Athlete Advisory Board (2006-07).

PERSONAL: Born in Long Beach, California…All-CIF DB at Los Alamitos (Calif.) HS...Sunset League DB of Year as senior and first-team all-league as junior and senior…first-team all-county by Orange County Register…lettered in track.

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