Antoine Cason Antoine Brandon Cason ( born July 9 , 1986 ) is an American football cornerback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for the University of Arizona , where he was recognized as an All - American and won the Jim Thorpe Award . He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft . He has also played for the Arizona Cardinals . Early years . Cason was born in Long Beach , California , to Deborah and Wendell Cason . His father Wendell played football for the University of Oregon and the NFL ' s Atlanta Falcons . His brother Dione competed in track at Washington State University . He is also a cousin of Ken - Yon Rambo of the CFL ' s Calgary Stampeders , and Aveion Cason , formerly of the NFL ' s Detroit Lions . He got his start playing in a local football league for the Carson - Gardena Colts , where he stood out as one of the team ' s top players . Cason started his high school career at Long Beach Polytechnic High School , then transferred to Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos , California after his freshman year . At Los Al , he played defensive back for the school ' s football team and ran track . During his high school years , Antoine earned several honors for his performance on the football field . Considered a three - star recruit by " Rivals . com " , Cason was listed as the # 37 cornerback prospect in the nation in 2004 . He chose Arizona over offers from Oregon State and Boise State . College career . Cason attended the University of Arizona , where he majored in political science and played for the Arizona Wildcats football team from 2004 to 2007 . He was a starting player for the University ' s football team since his freshman year in 2004 , and is recognized as one of the best cornerbacks in Arizona ' s history . After his first collegiate game , Antoine was named the Pac - 10 Defensive Player of the week . During his freshmen year , he was also honored as the Pac - 10 Freshman of the Year . In 2005 , he earned Second Team All Pac - 10 honors . Following the Wildcats ' upset win against number 25 - ranked Washington State University on November 4 , 2006 , he earned his second Pac - 10 Defensive Player of the week award . The following week , he was recognized again as Pac - 10 Defensive Player of the Week after breaking a 17 - 17 tie between the Wildcats and the number 8 - ranked Cal Bears by scoring a touchdown on a 39 - yard interception return . In 2006 , Cason was a semi - finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award . After the 2006 season , Cason was eligible for the 2007 NFL Draft . However , he decided to return for his senior season to finish his college degree . Cason continued his stellar play into his 2007 senior season . His performance on November 15 , 2007 in a 34 - 24 win against the then number two ranked Oregon Ducks included both an interception return and punt return for touchdowns . He finished the season with 5 interceptions , 2 of which were returned for touchdowns . He also returned 2 punts for touchdowns . On December 6 , 2007 he was awarded the Jim Thorpe Award for best defensive back in the country and was a consensus First - team All - America choice . In spring of 2007 , Cason earned All American honors in Track and Field for his contribution to the Men ' s 4 × 100 metres relay team , which finished in the top eight at the NCAA Championship . Professional career . 2008 NFL Draft . Cason was regarded as one of the best cornerbacks available in the 2008 NFL Draft , and was projected a mid - to - late first round pick by " Sports Illustrated " . He was eventually selected in the late first round ( 27th overall ) by the San Diego Chargers . San Diego Chargers . 2008 season . Cason played in all 16 regular season games and both playoff games at cornerback and on special teams as a rookie for the 2008 AFC Western Division champion San Diego Chargers . His first NFL interception came on September 14 , 2008 , against the Denver Broncos , picking off Jay Cutler in the end zone and returning for 10 yards . His second NFL interception was a 59 yard pick of Tampa Bay ' s Jeff Garcia for his first career NFL touchdown . He ended his rookie season with 74 tackles ( 59 solo ) and 2 INTs . 2009 season . The Chargers first game of the season came on a Monday Night Football match up against rival Oakland Raiders . In that game , Cason intercepted JaMarcus Russell ' s hail mary attempt on the last play of the game to seal the victory for the Chargers . In the next game , he intercepted Baltimore Ravens ' Joe Flacco and returned it 22 yards . Cason ended the season with 41 total tackles ( 38 solo ) and 2 INTs . He played in all 16 regular season games and their only playoff game for the 2009 AFC Western Division champion San Diego Chargers . 2010 season . He made first career start at corner on Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs . Cason had 2 interceptions against David Garrard of the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 2 . 2011 season . Cason was the starting cornerback opposite Quentin Jammer at the beginning of the season . Following a game against the Jets , in which he allowed three touchdown passes to Plaxico Burress , he was briefly benched in favor of the Chargers rookie cornerback Marcus Gilchrist ( 2nd round pick in 2011 ) . He regained the starting job after Gilchrist made one start , and he finished the season as the Chargers second starting cornerback . He sealed the Chargers victory in week 17 against the Raiders with an interception of Carson Palmer , which ended the Raiders playoff contention for the ninth consecutive year . Arizona Cardinals . On March 15 , 2013 , Cason signed a one - year deal with the Arizona Cardinals . In a game against the Tennessee Titans , Cason had 2 interceptions , one of them he ran back for a touchdown . Carolina Panthers . On March 21 , 2014 , Cason signed a one - year deal with the Carolina Panthers .