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MATT CASSEL
FULL NAME: Matthew Brennan Cassel
DOB: May 17, 1982
BIRTHPLACE: Northridge, CA
HEIGHT: 6’4” WEIGHT: 230lbs
HIGH SCHOOL: Chatsworth (CA) ’00
COLLEGE: Southern California
PROFESSIONAL DEBUT: 2005 New England Patriots
ACQUIRED: 2005 NFL Draft, Round 7, Pick 230
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Cassel grew up in the Los Angeles suburb of Northridge with his two brothers, Jack and Justin where his Little League Team made the 1994 Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. All three brothers are currently professional athletes. Older brother, Jack, is a Major League pitcher with the Houston Astros while younger brother, Justin is pitching in the Chicago White Sox organization. Cassel’s mother is a set decorator for the television show “My Own Worst Enemy” and in 2007 she won an Emmy for the 2006 mini-series “Tony Bennent: An American Classic.” HIGH SCHOOL: During his career at Chatsworth High, Matt was a two sport all-star in baseball and football. As a senior for the Chancellors, Cassel excelled on the grid-iron something Justin, who was a freshman, had to live up to. Matt completed 137 of 261 pass attempts (52.5) while accumulating 2,020 yards through the air with 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. Cassel also ran for 252 yards, on 115 carries (2.2 avg), and punched it into the endzone himself 11 times. In one game, he threw for 324 yards including five touchdowns. COLLEGE: After high school, Matt went on to attend the University of Southern California hoping to inherit the starting position from Carson Palmer in two years. He spent two years playing the under-study role to Palmer until the Bengals made the former Heisman Trophy winner the first overall pick of the 2003 NFL Draft. But the Trojans brought in high school stand-out Matt Leinart, who was going to compete with Cassel for the starting position. When Leinart won the job and proved he should be the starter, Cassel once again was relegated to back-up but he did not give up. No one would have faulted him if he wanted to transfer but he stayed at USC to get his degree. Cassel did get on the football field during his collegiate career as a tight end as well as made the Trojans baseball team in the spring, where he played with Yankees top pitching prospect Ian Kennedy and Mariners top catching prospect Jeff Clement. Off the field he was an outstanding student who graduated with a degree in Communications and a 3.37 GPA (B+).
LINKS:
Footer, Alyson "Big day for the Cassel family" MLB.com 7 September 2008.
