Antoine Cason

Antoine Brandon Cason (born July 9, 1986) is an American football cornerback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Arizona, and was recognized as an All-American and the top college defensive back. The San Diego Chargers selected him in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Early years
Cason was born in Long Beach, California, to Deborah and Wendell Cason. His father Wendell played football for the University of Oregon and the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. His brother Dione competed in track at Washington State University. He is also a cousin of Ken-Yon Rambo of the CFL's Calgary Stampeders, and Aveion Cason, formerly of the NFL's Detroit Lions.

He got his start playing in a local football league for the Carson-Gardena Colts, where he stood out as one of the team's top players. Cason started his high school career at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, then transferred to Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos, California after his freshman year. At Los Al, he played defensive back for the school's football team and ran track. During his high school years, Antoine earned several honors for his performance on the football field.

Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Cason was listed as the #37 cornerback prospect in the nation in 2004. He chose Arizona over offers from Oregon State and Boise State.

College career
Cason attended the University of Arizona, where he majored in political science and played for the Arizona Wildcats football team from 2004 to 2007. He was a starting player for the University's football team since his freshman year in 2004, and is recognized as one of the best cornerbacks in Arizona's history. After his first collegiate game, Antoine was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the week. During his freshmen year, he was also honored as the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. In 2005, he earned Second Team All Pac-10 honors. Following the Wildcats' upset win against number 25-ranked Washington State University on November 4, 2006, he earned his second Pac-10 Defensive Player of the week award. The following week, he was recognized again as Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week after breaking a 17-17 tie between the Wildcats and the number 8-ranked Cal Bears by scoring a touchdown on a 39-yard interception return. In 2006, Cason was a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. After the 2006 season, Cason was eligible for the 2007 NFL Draft. However, he decided to return for his senior season to finish his college degree.

Cason continued his stellar play into his 2007 senior season. His performance on November 15, 2007 in a 34-24 win against the then number two ranked Oregon Ducks included both an interception return and punt return for touchdowns. He finished the season with 5 interceptions, 2 of which were returned for touchdowns. He also returned 2 punts for touchdowns. On December 6, 2007 he was awarded the Jim Thorpe Award for best defensive back in the country and was a consensus First-team All-America choice.

In spring of 2007, Cason earned All American honors in Track and Field for his contribution to the Men's 4 × 100 metres relay team, which finished in the top eight at the NCAA Championship.

Awards and honors

 * Honorable mention Sporting News All-Pac-10 (2004)
 * Sporting News Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (2004)
 * Sporting News Freshman All-American (2004)
 * FWAA Freshman All-American (2004)
 * Rivals.com Freshman All-America Club (2004)
 * Second Team All Pac-10 (2005)
 * 2x First-team All-Pac-10 (2006-2007)
 * Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist (2006)
 * NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field All American in 4x100 (2006)
 * Jim Thorpe Award (2007)
 * Walter Camp First Team All American (2007)
 * Associated Press First Team All American (2007)
 * The Sporting News First Team All American (2007)
 * CBSSports.com First Team All American (2007)
 * SI.com First Team All American (2007)
 * Rivals.com First Team All American (2007)

2008 NFL Draft
Cason was regarded as one of the best cornerbacks available in the 2008 NFL Draft, and was projected a mid-to-late first round pick by Sports Illustrated. He was eventually selected in the late first round (27th overall) by the San Diego Chargers.

2008 season
Cason played in all 16 regular season games and both playoff games at cornerback and on special teams as a rookie for the 2008 AFC Western Division champion San Diego Chargers. His first NFL interception came on September 14, 2008, against the Denver Broncos, picking off Jay Cutler in the end zone and returning for 10 yards. His second NFL interception was a 59 yard pick of Tampa Bay's Jeff Garcia for his first career NFL touchdown. He ended his rookie season with 74 tackles (59 solo) and 2 INTs.

2009 season
The Chargers first game of the season came on a Monday Night Football match up against rival Oakland Raiders. In that game, Cason intercepted JaMarcus Russell's hail mary attempt on the last play of the game to seal the victory for the Chargers. In the next game, he intercepted Baltimore Ravens' Joe Flacco and returned it 22 yards. Cason ended the season with 41 total tackles (38 solo) and 2 INTs. He played in all 16 regular season games and their only playoff game for the 2009 AFC Western Division champion San Diego Chargers.

2010 season
He made first career start at corner on Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs. Cason had 2 interceptions against David Garrard of the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 2.

2011 season
Cason was the starting cornerback opposite Quentin Jammer at the beginning of the season. Following a game against the Jets, in which he allowed three touchdown passes to Plaxico Burress, he was briefly benched in favor of the Chargers rookie cornerback Marcus Gilchrest (2nd round pick in 2011). He regained the starting job after Gilchrist made one start, and he finished the season as the Chargers second starting cornerback. He sealed the Chargers victory in week 17 against the Raiders with an interception of Carson Palmer, which ended the Raiders playoff contention for the ninth consecutive year.