Related articles:

Cason selected by Chargers with 27th pick

Other articles by Shannon Conner:

Marriage proposal starts couple on journeyOpinion by Shannon Conner : Parents, media get raw deal from AIATucsonan leads American relay to finalsOn the fast track: Lagat wins againFirst throw sends Camarena to Olympics

Other articles by Ryan Finley:

Firecracker Triathlon's oldest entrant is determined not to take the longest Running takes Oro Valley couple to all 7 continents Cats find big Texan 'from out of the blue' Becoming Army strong Wildcats' young QB learns early: 'Don't do dumb stuff'

Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic Administrative & Professional
Tucson Urban League
CEO/President Finance and Accounting
Charles E. Gillman Company
Accounting Specialist Sales and Marketing
Everready Glass
Sales Reps Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION

Antoine Cason turned down the lure of the NFL a year ago, in part because he wanted to accomplish two things: win the Thorpe Award and be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

He's now 2-for-2.

The San Diego Chargers took the former Arizona Wildcat with the 27th overall pick in Saturday's draft, putting an enthralling ending to one of the best college careers in UA history.

"This is a dream come true, it truly is," Cason said hours after he accepted the offer from the Chargers. "For me to have an opportunity to play at the next level, it's definitely exciting."

Although he was surprised San Diego came calling, the 21-year-old Cason was not concerned, he said. "I didn't have any clue. We all thought it would be Green Bay. But they say that the team that doesn't talk with you, drafts you. I didn't even talk with them at all in the whole process."

Cason said he watched the draft "with a few guys" in a Long Beach, Calif., hotel room. By Saturday evening, he was with his family. "We're going to hang out and be together. It's a blessing for us all to be together."

Although he's from Long Beach and will play professionally about 100 miles from his hometown, Cason said, "I'm from Southern California but it wasn't a thing of staying near home. That wasn't my concern at all. I've always said I'll go anywhere."

Today he heads to San Diego for a news conference and to "meet everyone," he said.

Cason is just the fourth UA football player in 16 years to be selected in the first round. Offensive lineman John Fina was selected by the Bills with the 27th overall pick in 1992. The Ravens took cornerback Chris McAlister with the 10th overall pick in 1999; a year later, the Rams took tailback Trung Canidate 31st overall.

Cason's agent, Ron Slavin, said last week that a first-round selection would be a best-case scenario.

"He deserves it," Slavin said. "He does all the right things. He makes all the right decisions. He does everything the right way.

"He makes the league better."

He boosted Arizona's reputation as the player with the stunning smile and diamond stud earrings. He's a people person, quick to sign an autograph or pose for a picture, and he started the "Cason Cares" charity last fall to raise money for cancer research to honor his grandfather.

That character and his versatility on the field — as a slot receiver, outside as a corner and even at safety — are reasons the Chargers were interested.

"This is a big guy (with) 4.45 speed," Chargers Assistant General Manager Buddy Nix said on the team's Web site Saturday. "He's a guy that's got size. This guy is a great character kid. When we visited the school, the first thing they told us was when (they) recruited this guy, he has been the face of the program since we got him. He's that kind of leader and that kind of character."

Cason contemplated declaring for the draft after his junior season but decided to stay. He then put together one of the best seasons in recent Arizona history. Cason had five interceptions, forced two fumbles, registered two sacks and returned a punt for a touchdown in 2007. His numbers — bolstered by a pair of big games on national television — earned Cason some national attention.

By staying, Cason also completed his college education. He will earn a degree in political science next month but says he's not sure whether he will walk in the graduation ceremony.

Cason won the Thorpe Award in December, given annually to the nation's top defensive back. He was named a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, The Sporting News, CBSSports.com, Rivals.com and SI.com.

Cason said the decision to stay for four years "paid off as soon as I said it."

"The NFL's a business, and I figured I could wait for that," he said. "I wanted to accomplish everything I could accomplish."

Some experts predicted Cason would end up with the Cowboys, the Packers or the Patriots.

He worked out for New England in the months leading up to the draft, but the Pats' first-round slot — seventh overall before trading down to 10th— made his selection unlikely.

Cason and his agent believed he earliest he could go was No. 16 overall, where the Cardinals — looking for a cornerback — had their first selection.

With his college goals accomplished, Cason will turn his efforts to the NFL. He is hopeful Saturday's selection marks the start of a long career.

"Getting there is only half the battle," Slavin said. "Antoine's goal is not just, 'I want to get drafted.' His goal is to get to the league, be an elite player and be a guy people look up to."