It took a lot longer than I thought, but James Casey was finally selected. He will be playing his pro football three miles from where he starred at Rice, as the Houston Texans took him in the fifth round. Time to check the Texans schedule.
James Casey Overview Electing to turn pro after only two seasons with the Owls, Casey is a rare all-around athlete who was a seventh-round pick by the Chicago White Sox out of high school and spent three years in their farm system before retiring from baseball and signing with Rice.
Once with the Owls, it didn't take long for the former quarterback to establish himself as a dominant weapon at various positions, earning consensus Conference USA Freshman accolades and honorable mention all-conference honors from league coaches. Casey lined up at seven different positions in one game in 2007, and has played everything from defensive end to safety to quarterback to wide receiver.
Playing primarily at wide receiver in 2008, Casey was dominant in Rice's spread attack; he finished second in the country with 111 receptions for 1,329 yards and 13 touchdowns. For some, Casey will be characterized as a Matt Jones-like 'tweener. But also like Jones, Casey's unique upside could land him a stunningly high draft selection come April, even if he'll be turning 25 during his rookie season. Had an arm span of 30 5/8 inches and a hand span of 9 1/2 inches at the combine.
