Reporter Justin Spears' Fave Five

They hooked him: Lancers star Bijan Robinson verbally commits to Texas for 2020

Not one person from Tucson has ever played college football for the Texas Longhorns.

The last player from Southern Arizona to rep burnt orange and white was Douglas High School running back Gib Dawson, who led the Longhorns in rushing, receiving, all-purpose yards and scoring in 1951. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1953; the team’s iconic coach, Vince Lombardi, didn’t take over for another six years.

More than 60 years later, The Old Pueblo has produced its first Longhorn.

Salpointe Catholic running back Bijan Robinson announced his commitment to Texas Friday afternoon. The 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pound Robinson is rated as a five-star recruit and the third-best running back in the 2020 recruiting class, per 247sports.com. Robinson was also considering Ohio State, though just about every other major program — including Arizona — wanted him. Robinson rushed for 2,400 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2018. Both were single-season school records. One of his more notable games was a 247-yard and three-touchdown performance … on just four rushes.

During his three-year span at Salpointe Catholic, Robinson has rushed for 4,801 yards and 65 touchdowns. In total, Robinson has recorded 72 career touchdowns; he needs eight more to break Cam Denson’s career record.

Robinson picked the Longhorns because, well, it’s Texas. And he plays football.

“I chose there, first, because the coaches are what I need for my development at the college level, and God willing, the NFL,” Robinson told the Star. “The culture that Texas brings as a team and as a fan base is second to none and just how genuine the people are with winning mindsets. That’s the reason why I chose Texas, and how they love the Lord is the biggest thing for me.”

Robinson is the first five-star commit to join Texas’ 2020 recruiting class. The Longhorns were ranked 20th nationally by 247Sports.com before his commitment — and 15th afterwards.

Robinson said he was most impressed by Texas’ culture and coaching staff.

He believes both can help him achieve his goals, which include winning a national championship and the Heisman Trophy, and eventually becoming an NFL draft pick.

Coach Tom Herman’s staff is filled with former Ohio State coaches, including running backs coach Stan Drayton, who mentored Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott in college. Drayton also coached All-Pro running back Arian Foster at Tennessee and Matt Forte with the NFL’s Bears.

Texas’ tradition, history and facilities helped, too. Robinson roamed the sidelines at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium at April’s spring game. More than 70,000 fans packed the stadium; many knew who Robinson was, and screamed out for him to pick UT.

“When I was walking on the field, the fans were standing up just going nuts and they were like, ‘We need you! We need you here!’” he said. “And I was like, ‘Whoa, I’m not even here yet.’”

Robinson will step into a program that has produced big-time running backs.

Ricky Williams and Earl Campbell both won Heisman trophies before moving on to the NFL, where they combined to gain 19,416 yards.

“I feel like I can be in that category one day,” Robinson said.

But first, Robinson will play one more season at Salpointe Catholic. He wants to run for 3,000 yards and 40 touchdowns while winning a state championship; Salpointe has fallen one game short in each of the last two years. The Lancers open their season Aug. 30 against Mesa Dobson.

Antoine Cason 'created big plays in big moments' during UA Sports Hall of Fame career

Randy Estes was a four-star safety dripping with potential, which is why big-time college football coaches made their way to Los Alamitos High School’s football practices 15 years ago.

Antoine Cason, Estes’ teammate and skinny cornerback, saw an opportunity.

“He was a heck of a player,” Cason said of Estes, who went on to play at Washington State. “If (coaches) were gonna come see him every week, I feel like if I’m good enough, you should notice me too.”

Coaches did notice Cason, including Bob Stoops and Mike Stoops from Oklahoma. Mike Stoops, the soon-to-be Arizona head coach, made a pit stop in Long Beach, California while representing OU to scope out Estes. He liked what he saw of Estes — except it wasn’t Estes at all.

“That’s Antoine Cason,” one of Los Alamitos’ coaches eventually told Stoops. “That’s not who you think it is.”

Stoops kept Cason in mind, but didn’t offer him a scholarship to Oklahoma. Stoops reconnected with the SoCal playmaker once he was named Arizona’s head coach. Cason was the first recruit Stoops called after getting hired. The coach’s eye for talent paid off: Cason was inducted into the UA Sports Hall of Fame earlier this week at the Westin La Paloma.

The former first-round pick of the San Diego Chargers said he still gives Stoops grief over the mixup.

“I always asked, ‘What didn’t you like about me when you were at Oklahoma?’ He always has an excuse — ‘Ah, it was something,’” Cason said with a smile. “I love Coach Stoops.”

It’s been nearly a dozen years since Cason last played a snap for the Wildcats, but returning to Tucson to join a UA Hall of Fame class that consists of Alison Walshe (women’s golf), May Mickelsen Warren (rife), Dan Schneider (baseball), Taryne Mowatt (softball), Steve Mikulic (baseball) and Joan Bonvicini (women’s basketball) reminded the Long Beach, California native how special his time was at Arizona. He spent the 2004-07 seasons here, earning the Thorpe Award — to the nation’s top defensive back — as a senior.

“What I remember the most were the people, because when I got here, my determination, dedication and commitment, of course, everyone saw that,” he said. “But the people that I met and people I surrounded myself with, the friends, the C.A.T.S. Academics (people), the administration, the football staff, my teammates, that’s what made the experience so great.”

Stoops, of course, was at the top of Cason’s list. The feeling is mutual.

Cason was one of the players who lifted Arizona from the Pac-10 cellar to a respected team in the conference — even if he never played in a bowl game. Stoops’ Arizona teams won the Las Vegas Bowl and appeared in the Holiday Bowl and Alamo Bowl following Cason’s four-year career.

Those teams all had Cason’s fingerprints on it. When he first arrived to campus, former UA safety Darrell Brooks took Cason under his wing. Cason returned the favor a few years later, mentoring future UA standouts Devin Ross, Trevin Wade, Robert Golden, Cam Nelson, Nate Ness, Brooks Reed and Ricky Elmore.

“Even though I only played a couple years with him, he impacted my time here,” said Elmore, who attended Thursday’s ceremony with his wife, former UA softball standout Callista Balko Elmore. “He was the type of guy where coaches put a lot on his shoulders and he handled it pretty well. The one thing I really remember the most about Antoine was his consistency. He was available and he created big plays in big moments. … He was that perfect player that coaches wanted.”

The Wildcats had memorable moments during Cason’s tenure, including upset wins over No. 7 UCLA (2005), No. 8 Cal (’06) and No. 2 Oregon (’07) on national television. The Cal game might have been Cason’s crowning moment. Not only did he cover Golden Bears star wide receiver DeSean Jackson, but Cason intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown in a 24-20 UA win. Cal’s team included future NFL running backs Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett.

“Seeing that type of play when I was that young, it just impacted me. It made me want to create big moments like that in the future,” Elmore said.

Cason says his favorite memory, however, came when the Cats beat the second-ranked Ducks on a Thursday-night game televised on ESPN.

“No one gave us a chance so that was by far the top memory, but Cal was right up there,” he said.

The Chargers took Cason 27th overall in the 2008 draft. He is the last UA player to be taken in the first round, and one of just 10 in program history to go that high.

Cason spent five seasons in San Diego, then went on to play for the Cardinals, Panthers and Ravens. A foot injury cost him the 2015 season; Cason retired after that. The former UA star now lives in Long Beach with his wife and 8-year-old son, Antoine II. He spends his weekends coaching youth football.

Trips to Tucson — like this week’s visit and enshrinement in the Hall of Fame — bring back great memories.

“It feels amazing. Seriously, words just can’t express it,” Cason said. “These were the best four years of my life — well, besides my son being born. It’s a great feeling.

“I just want to be remembered as someone who was dedicated and worked hard. I know what got me here and it was the people that got me here, not just me alone. I just want to be remembered as someone who cared.”

Arizona's homecoming weekend a celebration of Dick Tomey's legend, legacy

Dick Tomey walked into Lance Briggs’ home 20 years ago for a recruiting visit. At the front door, he was greeted by someone would become one of the top linebackers in Chicago Bears history and his mom, Brenda.

Tomey could have easily just shaken hands and gotten down to business, as many coaches did. Instead, he talked about brighter things.

“The first thing he talked about was my smile,” Briggs said Friday. “We didn’t talk football for the first 15-20 minutes. For the first 15-20 minutes, he told me, ‘You have a smile that’ll light up a room. That smile is going to carry you in life.’ … Nobody talked about my smile.

“Maybe I didn’t smile with the other coaches.”

Tomey’s profession was football. But ask anyone who worked closely with Arizona’s all-time winningest head coach, and they’ll tell you that his priorities extended well beyond the final score. Yes, he would make his players roll 100-plus yards if they skipped class. Yes, he was tough as a coach. But Tomey, who died in May at age 80, mentored with love.

“He was intense. He was a straightforward guy and I don’t think he held any punches. But you could never say there was a loss of love,” said Briggs, who played at the UA from 1999-2002 and spent 12 seasons in the NFL. “You always felt love from him and you always felt like he was teaching you something that was greater than just the sport.”

Arizona’s homecoming weekend, which included a 1990s theme, was in many ways a celebration of Tomey’s selfless tenure in Tucson.

Friday, the UA dedicated the Dick Tomey Football Practice Fields in his honor. Dozens of Tomey’s former players attended the ceremony, making for a nostalgic moment. Those who knew him best said the practice field was Tomey’s sanctuary.

“He loved practice and he loved putting in the work,” his son Rich said. “This is where he got after guys the most, but at the same time, he never gave anyone anything. Everyone always had a chance on the practice field.

“That was his mantra — guys, walk-ons, it didn’t matter who you were, you always had a chance. That’s what makes it so fitting.”

A plaque on the gate leading into the fields lists Tomey’s accolades: a 95-64-4 record over 14 seasons at the UA, a Pac-10 Coach of the Year award and his role as the man responsible for the “Desert Swarm” defense. A metal structure inside the facility contains a Tomey-ism — “The team, the team, the team” — that was the essence of who he was.

What does it mean?

“When you’re out there catching the ball, you can’t catch the ball by yourself. You didn’t throw the ball to yourself. You didn’t block,” said former Arizona wide receiver Dennis Northcutt. “Coach Tomey always made sure if you wanted to win, it was all about the team. You can’t win without the team.”

When Arizona was looking to add to its own team two years ago, Tomey stepped in. Kevin Sumlin said Tomey called him during the UA’s last coaching search — something university president Robert C. Robbins and athletic director Dave Heeke didn’t know.

“We had a conversation about coming to the University of Arizona and Coach Tomey called me and said, ‘This is the place you need to be,’” Heeke said. “I was driving down the street somewhere in Texas … and he was somewhere in Hawaii getting ready for a bowl game and said ‘Kevin, this is where you need to be,’” Sumlin said. “He went on and on and on about philosophy, things that he did here and what he wanted to see accomplished here.”

“When you have that kind of blessing from a man like that, it’s a lot. … I don’t take that lightly. … He’s always going to be a part of this program.”

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