Lone Ranger

Most college football players in Antoine Cason’s position usually choose the most beaten path.

After all, if you’re a player as skilled and as seasoned as Cason, why not forgo your senior year and make that jump to the NFL?

Why not go pro after three subpar seasons without going to a bowl game?

Why not leave the college lifestyle in favor of one that promises millions as a first-day NFL draft pick?

Why not go Antoine?

“I didn’t want to jump the gun,” says Cason, arguably the Pac-10’s best defensive back. “Sometimes having patience is key. I’m a competitor and of course I wanted to go play (in the NFL). But it’s just some things that you have to think real long and hard and make the best decision for yourself.”

What Cason did not want to do is leave the Arizona football team early—especially after starting every single game in his three-year career for the Wildcats.

His main reason for choosing to stay on campus was to try to bring a winning season to Tucson, Ariz.

The Wildcats, in recent years, have been notoriously futile in their attempts of trying to forge a winning program in the desert heat—the last time Arizona had a winning season was in 1998 when the Wildcats went 12-1 and made a trip to the Holiday Bowl.

After that, Arizona took a nose dive and Cason did not want to leave campus without turning things around—and earning a college degree.

“Before coming to college, I had set my goals in a certain order,” says Cason. “I feel that I wanted to achieve in that certain order. Graduation was one of them and that came before the NFL. Of course having a winning season, becoming a winning program and going to a bowl game were other goals that came before my ultimate NFL goal.”

However none of that has happened yet and this season has not gotten off on the right track.

Arizona dropped its season opener to BYU and then lost to New Mexico at home. The team’s only win of the year came against Division I-AA Northern Arizona.

So, any regrets for not taking that NFL contract?

“It’s just two losses. A winning season is definitely in sight,” says Cason. “No, I don’t regret anything I’ve done in my past. I felt that this was the best decision I can make for myself and for my family.”

Don’t blame Cason for any of the fruitless seasons that have come for Arizona in the last three years. Sure, the Wildcats have gone 3-8 in 2004, 3-8 in 2005 and 6-6 last year, but Cason has done his part to try to reverse that.

In his freshman year, Cason had 70 tackles, six pass defenses and four interceptions. He was named to several Freshmen All-America teams and was a

Pac-10 All-Freshman selection.

In 2005, after offensive coordinators became aware of Cason’s lockdown ability and started going away from him, Cason was a second-team Pac-10 honoree having snagged three picks and 50 tackles.

Last year was probably Cason’s best—when his three picks, 62 tackles and three forced fumbles earned him second-team All-America honors and a spot on the Pac-10's first team.

It was that kind of year that made many NFL pundits believe that Cason was a sure-fire first-round draft choice.

“He’s a great corner, he’s kind of a lock-down guy,” says Cal coach Jeff Tedford. “They feel like they can leave him alone, one-on-one with people on the boundary and he does a really good job.”

He may not only be the best corner in the Pac-10—Cason is also considered the best corner by an old friend—Bears wideout DeSean Jackson.

Jackson and Cason may not have played each other in an official game in high school—Jackson was a star at Long Beach Poly while Cason did his work for Los Alamitos High—but they did grow up with each other in Long Beach, Calif., often times going at each other in various offseason workouts.

“We were in passing leagues and 7-on-7s together,” reminisces Jackson. “I just remember me and him going at it. You know when it’s the best corner against the best wide receiver, you want to show off your skills.”

And how’s the friendly rivalry now?

“A lot of trash talk,” says Cason.

Cason may be taking a few cues from his former town mate. This year, Arizona coach Mike Stoops has Cason returning punts, probably in an effort to get the Wildcats’ most prominent threat the ball more.

Cason does know how to take the ball to the end zone. He played running back at Los Alamitos High and he scored the game-winning touchdown against the Bears last year after picking off Nate Longshore in Tucson.

Two weeks ago, Cason took a punt return 70 yards for a touchdown.

“I’m used to having the ball in my hands,” says Cason. “What a lot of people don’t realize is that I played running back in high school. I’m used to having the ball, so I know what to do when I get it.”

If Cason continues to do what he’s done the last 37 games of his college career, he won’t need the ball in his hands to make the jump to the next level.

He may need the ball to help his team win, however. But that’s probably why Cason is such a special player. In an era that sees all too many think about themselves and jump a sinking ship to make the money in the pros, Cason didn’t do that.

No, Cason didn’t want to leave the camaraderie—no matter how hard it is to win.

“Just the thought of going out as a winner, in a winning program, playing hard and just being a good teammate to these guys—you can never duplicate your college experience —that’s why I stayed,” he says.

Why not?

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