Aveion Cason
Encyclopedia
Aveion Marquel Cason is a former American football
running back
and kick returner
who played in the NFL from 2001 - 2009. He was originally signed by the St. Louis Rams
as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football
at Illinois State.
Cason has also been a member of the Kansas City Chiefs
, Detroit Lions
, Dallas Cowboys
, Arizona Cardinals
and Florida Tuskers.
in St. Petersburg, Florida
, and as a junior, he rushed for 980 yards and averaged nearly 38.0 yards per kickoff return. He did not play during his senior year after switching schools.
at Illinois State University
, but did not play in 2000. As a freshman in 1998, he rushed for 728 yards and eight touchdown
s. In 1999 as a sophomore, Cason reached totals of 345 yards and six touchdowns, along with a 28.1-yard average on kickoff returns.
rookie
in 2001, Cason played five games for the Detroit Lions
, rushing for 31 yards. In 2002 with a bigger role he rushed for 107 yards, and also returned two kicks with an average of 24.0 yards. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys
in 2003
and played in ten games before injuring his knee. He had career highs of 220 yards and two touchdowns, and returned five kickoffs for an average of 16.2 yards. In 2004
he played for the St. Louis Rams
as a kick returner. He returned 14 kicks for a 22.1-yard average. In 2005
, Cason rushed for 65 yards and one touchdown. He did not return to the Rams following the 2005 season
. He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Lions in October, 2006. Due to an injury to Kevin Jones
, he started
his first game in a Week 16 loss vs the Chicago Bears
and rushed for 31 yards on five carries. On September 1, 2007, Cason was released by the Detroit Lions. However, on September 12, 2007 the Detroit Lions re-signed him. Cason was on the Detroit Lions active roster as their kick returner on special teams, in place of former Detroit Lion Eddie Drummond
, who had left for the Kansas City Chiefs
.
After being a free agent in 2008, he decided to stay with the Lions and re-signed with them. Cason was released on September 4, 2009.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
who played in the NFL from 2001 - 2009. He was originally signed by the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Illinois State.
Cason has also been a member of the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Florida Tuskers.
Early years
Cason attended Lakewood High SchoolLakewood High School (Florida)
Lakewood High School is a public high school in St. Petersburg, Florida operated by Pinellas County Schools. It opened in 1967 with students previously attending St. Petersburg High School and Boca Ciega High School. As of 2006, due to its 54% minority population, Lakewood High was known as one of...
in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, and as a junior, he rushed for 980 yards and averaged nearly 38.0 yards per kickoff return. He did not play during his senior year after switching schools.
College career
Cason played two years of college ballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
, but did not play in 2000. As a freshman in 1998, he rushed for 728 yards and eight touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. In 1999 as a sophomore, Cason reached totals of 345 yards and six touchdowns, along with a 28.1-yard average on kickoff returns.
Professional career
As an undraftedUndrafted
An undrafted sportsperson or undrafted free agent is specific type of sportsperson who plays, or attempts to play, in a professional sports league without first being selected in a draft....
rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
in 2001, Cason played five games for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, rushing for 31 yards. In 2002 with a bigger role he rushed for 107 yards, and also returned two kicks with an average of 24.0 yards. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in 2003
2003 Dallas Cowboys season
2003 marked the 44th season for the Dallas Cowboys organization as the team, coming off three consecutive 5–11 seasons, hired former New York Giants and New England Patriots coach Bill Parcells....
and played in ten games before injuring his knee. He had career highs of 220 yards and two touchdowns, and returned five kickoffs for an average of 16.2 yards. In 2004
2004 St. Louis Rams season
The 2004 St. Louis Rams season was the team's 67th year with the National Football League and the 10th season in St. Louis.-Schedule:-Playoffs:...
he played for the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
as a kick returner. He returned 14 kicks for a 22.1-yard average. In 2005
2005 St. Louis Rams season
The 2005 St. Louis Rams season was the team's 68th year with the National Football League and the 11th season in St. Louis.-Schedule:-Standings:...
, Cason rushed for 65 yards and one touchdown. He did not return to the Rams following the 2005 season
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
. He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Lions in October, 2006. Due to an injury to Kevin Jones
Kevin Jones (American football)
Kevin S. Jones is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions 30th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
, he started
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
his first game in a Week 16 loss vs the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and rushed for 31 yards on five carries. On September 1, 2007, Cason was released by the Detroit Lions. However, on September 12, 2007 the Detroit Lions re-signed him. Cason was on the Detroit Lions active roster as their kick returner on special teams, in place of former Detroit Lion Eddie Drummond
Eddie Drummond
Edward Matthew Drummond is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is currently with the Las Vegas Locomotives in the United Football League. He was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
, who had left for the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
.
After being a free agent in 2008, he decided to stay with the Lions and re-signed with them. Cason was released on September 4, 2009.