Player Profile

PRO: The Cowboys made a draft day trade on April 27 sending a seventh-round draft choice to Detroit for Aveion Cason. Cason spent the last two years working with new Cowboys Offensive Coordinator Maurice Carthon, and he should make an immediate impact as both a runner and receiver out of the backfield. He has good hands as evidenced by his 23 career receptions, but he also has the speed to make things happen once he has the ball as reflected in his 13.9 yards-per-catch average. Cason also gives the Cowboys an additional element in the return game on kickoffs.

2002: Cason's sophomore campaign saw him take big strides as a contributor to the Lions offensive attack as both a runner and receiver. He finished the season with 26 carries for 107 yards (4.1 avg.) and 19 receptions for 288 yards, two touchdowns and a 15.2 yards-per-catch average. He earned his first career start in the season opener at Miami (9/8) and recorded two receptions for 37 yards (18.5 avg.), including a 19-yard catch. The following week at Carolina (9/15), he recorded two more catches for 24 yards. Cason suffered meniscus damage in his right knee during practice on Sept. 19, and following arthroscopic surgery on the knee, he was deactivated against Green Bay (9/22) and New Orleans (9/29). Cason returned to practice on Oct. 7 and recorded two receptions for 34 yards at Minnesota (10/13), including a 26-yard grab. He led the Lions with three receptions for a career-high 57 yards against Chicago (10/20) but suffered a right ankle sprain during the game. The injury kept him out of uniform at Buffalo (10/27), but he returned to practice on Oct. 30. Cason recorded two kickoff returns for 48 yards against Dallas (11/3) and logged three receptions for 17 yards at Green Bay (11/10). A sprained MCL in his right knee limited him to two receptions for 17 yards against the N.Y. Jets (11/17). He was then inactive at Arizona (12/7), against New England (11/28) and at Chicago (11/24) due to the knee injury. With James Stewart sideline due to injury, Cason returned to action and a place in the starting lineup against Tampa Bay (12/15), finishing with a career-high 62 rushing yards on 10 carries (6.2 avg.). He also posted a career-long run of 40-yards and a career-long reception of 37 yards against the NFL's top ranked defense in 2002. The next week at Atlanta (12/22), he recorded his first career touchdown with a 15-yard scoring catch in the fourth quarter. Cason added two receptions for 49 yards and his second career touchdown the following week against Minnesota (12/22). For the month of December, Cason averaged 10.8 yards every time he touched the football, racking up 102 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions and 82 yards on 12 carries.

2001: Cason originally signed with St. Louis as a rookie free agent following the NFL Draft. He made the opening day roster and recorded four kickoff returns for 73 yards in the season opener at Philadelphia (9/9). He was released by the Rams on Sept. 27 and signed to the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad on Oct. 3. The Lions plucked him off the Chiefs' practice squad on Nov. 19, and he saw action in the final five games of the season. His Lions' debut came at Tampa Bay (12/9), and he recorded two carries for 10 yards against Chicago (12/30). Cason saw extended playing time in the season finale against Dallas (1/6/02), carrying the ball five times for 19 yards and adding four receptions for 32 yards.

COLLEGE: Cason played two seasons for Illinois State but did not play in 2000. As a sophomore in 1999, he rushed for 345 yards and six touchdowns on 78 carries as well as adding 34 receptions for 278 yards and two more scores. He ranked sixth in the nation with a 28.1 yards-per-return average on kickoffs, including two 100-yard scoring returns. For the year, he earned Football Gazette All-America and All-Gateway honors. As a freshman, he was named to the All-Gateway Conference Newcomer Team after rushing a career-high 124 times for a career-best 728 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had 33 receptions for 230 yards.

PERSONAL: Aveion Marquel Cason was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Fla. He did not play football during his senior year of high school after transferring, but he racked up 980 rushing yards and a 38.0-yard average as a kickoff return man during his junior season at Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg. He received his degree from Illinois State in industrial technology.