Fason was born in Atlanta, Georgia.[1] He attended Duncan U. Fletcher High School in Neptune Beach, Florida,[2] and he was a star running back and four-time most valuable player for the Fletcher Senators high school football team.[3] He rushed for over 7,400 career yards—twice for over 2,000 yards in a season—and finished his high school career as Florida's fifth all-time leading rusher and tops in Northeast Florida history.[3]Parade magazine and PrepStar recognized Fason as a high school All-American in 2001.[3] Rated as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Fason was listed as the top running back prospect in the nation in 2002.[4]
College career
Fason received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida,[3] where he played for coach Ron Zook's Florida Gators football team from 2002 to 2004.[5] As a sophomore in 2003, he had a 75-yard touchdown run against the Arkansas Razorbacks and rushed for 190 yards against the South Carolina Gamecocks.[3] During his junior season in 2004, Fason was named a team captain, and rushed for 1,267 yards on 222 carries and caught thirty-five passes for 266 yards—a total of 1,533 offensive yards (fourth best in Gators history).[5] After the season, he was recognized as an Associated Press first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection and a CNN-Sports Illustrated honorable mention All-American, and was the recipient of the Gators' most valuable player award and their Fergie Ferguson Award—recognizing the team member who "displayed outstanding leadership, character and courage."[5] After his junior year, he decided to forgo his final season of NCAA eligibility and declared for the NFL Draft.[3]
Professional career
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings selected Fason in the fourth round (112th pick overall) of the 2005 NFL draft.[6] He played for the Vikings for two seasons in 2005 and 2006.[7] During his two years with the Vikings, he appeared in eighteen regular season games, rushing for 161 yards and five touchdowns on fifty carries.[1] On August 31, 2007, the Vikings released him.
Jacksonville Jaguars
In 2008, Fason worked out for his hometown Jacksonville Jaguars. He wrote a letter to Jaguars GMJames Harris asking if he could at least try out. Fason stated in a press conference, "No matter what I did in my NFL career, I just wanted to wear a Jaguars' uniform, even if it was just for a tryout." On August 25, 2008, Fason was signed by the Jaguars; on August 30, he was released.
Edmonton Eskimos
Fason was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos on April 24, 2009.[8][9] He was released on June 25, 2009, re-signed on July 5, and released again on August 25.
^Gerry Moddejonge, "Focus on Fason," The Edmonton Sun (June 20, 2009). Retrieved March 21, 2011.
Bibliography
Carlson, Norm, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia (2007). ISBN0-7948-2298-3.