NFL 2009 Draft: James Casey (TE) Rice

Few will argue that Rice's James Casey is a tremendous athlete, after all the prolific Tight End came to Rice as Linebacker, has played Running Back, Quarterback, pitched in the Minor Leagues and even thrown the Javelin for Rice's Track & Field team. Casey's showing at the NFL Scouting Combine did nothing to dispel the notion that he has the natural ability to play the game at the next level.

Though not the fastest Tight End at the Combine (he had a time of 4.71 for the forty) Casey's strength (28 reps on the bench) and excellent leaping ability (36" vertical leap), will help validate his fantastic Sophomore season numbers to NFL Scouts. And what numbers they were, last season Casey was the nation's second leading receiver with 111 catches, for 1,329 yards and 13 touchdowns. However, his numbers did not stop there as the 6-4, 245 lbs Casey also managed to rush for 241 yards and another 6 scores.

Along the way there were big games against Memphis, UTEP and Houston. Against Memphis, in the second game of the season, Casey set a career record with 208 yards receiving on 11 catches, adding a rushing touchdown in the closely fought contest. Against both UTEP and Houston, Casey had 12 catches for over 140 yards and 4 total touchdowns in each game.

Those impressive numbers should not have come as a surprise to anyone who had seen Casey play the second half of his Freshman year. After only catching 3 passes through the first five games of the 2007 season, Casey burst into the college limelight with 43 catches over the final seven games of the year.

Aside from outstanding athletic ability, and versatility, Casey is also an extremely bright player who is a triple major at Rice (while carrying a 3.8 GPA), who has a great attitude; both intangibles that NFL Coaches are looking for more and more these days. Though he tried out at Tight End during the NFL Combine, Casey has said he will play whatever position is needed at the next level. Look for this versatile player from Rice to be drafted in the mid rounds of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Sources:

Sprow, Chris, "The NEXT: NFL Yeoman," www.sports.espn.go.com

www.riceowls.cstv.comwww.nfldraftscout.com