falconstorm

http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/A...big_heart.aspx

Arizona cornerback Antoine Cason recently became the school's first football player to earn All-Pac 10 honors on defense and special teams in the same season.

But that's not the only thing special about him.

Cason spoke at length at the Scouting Combine about his efforts to raise money for cancer research.

Cason started "Cason Cares," where he and a friend raised close to $7,000 by selling wrist bands.

"My grandfather (Royce Rambo) died of leukemia, MDS, in February of ’07," he said. "He was a role model to me. He’s done everything for the family. My senior year I wanted to do something to honor him for what he’s done for me and my family. And I sold the bracelets, $3 apiece at Arizona, and all the money went to the American Cancer Society... Everything is not about me. I wanted to give back and do something positive and pretty much everyone can relate to.

"It was a lot of hours. I had to wake up, weights at 8, school all day, practice and then we would go over things and I wouldn’t get home until 9:30. It was a long process and I had to stay focused on what I was trying to accomplish in football, as well as school.”

He applies the same passion and dedication to his game.

Cason ranks fourth in school history with 15 interceptions. He also ranked fifth in the Pac 10 last season with 27 punt returns for 271 yards (10.0-yard average) and a pair of touchdowns.

His father, Wendell, played defensive back for the Falcons from 1985 to 1987, elected to return to school for a senior season because he wanted to accomplish more in his college career. He hit his goals, including being named an All-American.

"I wanted to win the Jim Thorpe Award, which I did this year; be a consensus all-American, I achieved that; and I wanted to be the best cornerback in college football. I wasn’t content coming out as a junior and not be the best. I’ve always wanted to be the best and worked to be the best.”

He also credits his fathers' teaching for his achievements.

"That’s benefited me greatly," Cason said. "That’s a thing a lot of people don’t realize, that I’ve had coaching since high school from someone who’s played at the highest level of football. He taught me a lot of things from high school to college to now. It’s been a blessing for me to have him."

Cason started every game he played in college and is attractive to NFL teams as a shutdown corner and a punt returner, though he said no team at the Combine talked to him about returning kicks.

Speed is one question mark in his game, an attribute he was quizzed about at the Combine. He has been clocked at 4.48 in the 49-yard dash according to NFLDraftScout.com.

At the Combine he was among the top performers in the bench press, vertical jump, broad jump and 20-yard shuttle.

"No, it doesn’t bother me at all. I’m a competitor," Cason said about his speed -- answering the question with the same enthusiasm he showed in his foundation work. "I’m ready to prove myself every time I step out on a national platform."

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