James Casey enters NFL Draft
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 1:22 pmRice sophomore utility back James Casey, who famously manned seven positions in one game during the 2007 season, announced today that he will forgo his final two years of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft.
Casey, 24, signed with Rice in January 2007 after spending four seasons playing professional baseball. He was a seventh-round selection of the Chicago White Sox out of Azle High School in 2003, but retired in 2006 and shopped around for a school where he could revive his football career. Casey originally signed with the Owls as a safety and spent spring drills working at defensive end before later shifting to offense.
Rice coach David Bailiff utilized Casey in multiple roles in 2007, going so far as to play him at seven different positions against Southern Miss. As the season progressed, it became obvious that Casey was most potent as a receiver, and he finished the year with 46 receptions for 585 yards and four touchdowns.
Casey (6-4, 235) also played quarterback in short-yardage situations, a role he reprised as a sophomore. However, Casey made his greatest contributions as a hybrid tight end, setting a Conference USA single-season record for receptions (111) while also breaking the school mark for receiving yards with 1,329. Casey posted 13 touchdown receptions, rushed for six touchdowns, and passed for two additional scores.
A first team All-C-USA selection and Sports Illustrated honorable mention All-American, Casey filed paperwork with an advisory committee on Dec. 2 to gauge his draft stock. Via conversations with NFL personnel, Rice officials learned that Casey could be a first-day selection. A triple major (Economics, Managerial Studies and Sports Management) with a 3.84 GPA, Casey hopes to graduate this summer.
Casey, 24, signed with Rice in January 2007 after spending four seasons playing professional baseball. He was a seventh-round selection of the Chicago White Sox out of Azle High School in 2003, but retired in 2006 and shopped around for a school where he could revive his football career. Casey originally signed with the Owls as a safety and spent spring drills working at defensive end before later shifting to offense.
Rice coach David Bailiff utilized Casey in multiple roles in 2007, going so far as to play him at seven different positions against Southern Miss. As the season progressed, it became obvious that Casey was most potent as a receiver, and he finished the year with 46 receptions for 585 yards and four touchdowns.
Casey (6-4, 235) also played quarterback in short-yardage situations, a role he reprised as a sophomore. However, Casey made his greatest contributions as a hybrid tight end, setting a Conference USA single-season record for receptions (111) while also breaking the school mark for receiving yards with 1,329. Casey posted 13 touchdown receptions, rushed for six touchdowns, and passed for two additional scores.
A first team All-C-USA selection and Sports Illustrated honorable mention All-American, Casey filed paperwork with an advisory committee on Dec. 2 to gauge his draft stock. Via conversations with NFL personnel, Rice officials learned that Casey could be a first-day selection. A triple major (Economics, Managerial Studies and Sports Management) with a 3.84 GPA, Casey hopes to graduate this summer.