Players

  With their first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Chargers tabbed Jim Thorpe Award winner cornerback Antoine Cason from the University of Arizona with the 27th overall choice. While many young players take time to develop, Cason was ready to play from day one.

  Cason made an immediate impact as a rookie. He was the team’s third-leading tackler on special teams and its nickel-back on defense. He intercepted two passes as a rookie, including one that he returned 59 yards for a touchdown, which helped close out a late season win in Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. Cason’s prowess on defense and special teams shouldn’t be a surprise. At Arizona, he became the first Wildcat to earn All-Pac-10 defense and special teams accolades in the same season.

  He comes from a family rich in sports tradition. His father, Wendell, was a defensive back at the University of Oregon (1981-84) and went on to play for the Atlanta Falcons (1985-87). Antoine’s brother, Dione, ran track at Washington State. His cousin, Ken-yon Rambo, was a receiver at Ohio State (1997-00) before playing for the Dallas Cowboys (2001-02) and New York Jets (2003). And another cousin, Aveion Cason, was an All-America tailback at Illinois State (1997-00) and currently plays for the Detroit Lions (2001-02, 2006-present) after previously seeing stints with the St. Louis Rams (2001, 04-05) and Cowboys (2003). 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 one of the first to volunteer for community outreach. Last December, he and several teammates helped deliver food to needy families and community partners at the San Diego Food Bank. In college, he also 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.” Antoine became involved after losing his grandfather, Royce Rambo, to cancer in February 2006, while Brooks had several of his own family members affected by the disease. 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 at the McKale Center in December 2007.

  Cason’s favorite hobby is bowling. He’s also a fan of American Muscle Cars, particularly the Mustang.

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

 2009: Sealed a week one win over the Raiders with an interception. Led the team in tackles with 11 solo tackles and 1 assisted in week 17 win over the Redskins.

  2008: First-career INT in end zone off Jay Cutler in 4Q Wk 2 at Denver…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 Denver...paced squad with two STTs in Jan. 5 AFC Wild Card Playoffs vs. Indianapolis...1Q sack of Ben Roethlisberger on 3rd-down play late in 1Q of AFC Divisional Playoffs at Pittsburgh, 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 A 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.