Ciatrick Fason

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1982)}} {{Use American English|date=March 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Ciatrick Fason | image =  | image_size = | alt = | caption = | number = 35 | position = Running back | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|10|29|mf=y}} | birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lbs = 207 | college = Florida | high_school = Duncan U. Fletcher<br>(Neptune Beach, Florida) | draftyear = 2005 | draftround = 4 | draftpick = 112 | pastteams = * Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2005}}–{{NFL Year|2006}}) * Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2008}})* * Edmonton Eskimos ({{CFL Year|2009}})* | highlights = * First-team All-SEC (2004) | statleague = NFL | statlabel1 = Rushing attempts | statvalue1 = 50 | statlabel2 = Rushing yards | statvalue2 = 161 | statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns | statvalue3 = 5 | statlabel4 = Receptions | statvalue4 = 3 | statlabel5 = Receiving yards | statvalue5 = 19 | statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns | statvalue6 = 0 | pfr = FasoCi00 }}

'''Ciatrick Antione Fason''' (born October 29, 1982) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL) during the early 2000s. Fason played college football for the Florida Gators.

== Early life ==

Fason was born in Atlanta, Georgia.<ref name="pfrprofile">{{Cite web |title=Ciatrick Fason Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FasoCi00.htm |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He attended Duncan U. Fletcher High School in Neptune Beach, Florida,<ref name=dbfprofile>databaseFootball.com, Players, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20111121153830/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=FASONCIA01 Ciatrick Fason]}}. Retrieved March 21, 2011.</ref> and he was a star running back and four-time most valuable player for the Fletcher Senators high school football team.<ref name=ufprofile>GatorZone.com, Football History, 2004 Roster, [http://www.gatorzone.com/football/bios.php?year=2004&sub=team&bio=fason.html Ciatrick Fason] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109231021/http://www.gatorzone.com/football/bios.php?year=2004&sub=team&bio=fason.html |date=November 9, 2007 }}. Retrieved March 21, 2011.</ref> 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.<ref name=ufprofile/> ''Parade'' magazine and PrepStar recognized Fason as a high school All-American in 2001.<ref name=ufprofile/> Rated as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Fason was listed as the top running back prospect in the nation in 2002.<ref>Rivals.com, Football Recruiting, [https://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=32 Rivals 100: Running backs 2002]. Retrieved March 21, 2011.</ref>

== College career ==

Fason received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida,<ref name=ufprofile/> where he played for coach Ron Zook's Florida Gators football team from 2002 to 2004.<ref name=ufmediaguide>''[http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2011/media_guide.pdf 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402035222/http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2011/media_guide.pdf |date=April 2, 2012 }}'', University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 89, 97, 98, 103, 125, 127, 138–140, 147–148, 159, 171, 181 (2011). Retrieved August 28, 2011.</ref> 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.<ref name=ufprofile/> 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).<ref name=ufmediaguide/> 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."<ref name=ufmediaguide/> After his junior year, he decided to forgo his final season of NCAA eligibility and declared for the NFL draft.<ref name=ufprofile/>

== Professional career ==

=== Minnesota Vikings ===

The Minnesota Vikings selected Fason in the fourth round (112th pick overall) of the 2005 NFL draft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2005 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He played for the Vikings for two seasons in {{NFL Year|2005}} and {{NFL Year|2006}}.<ref name=nflprofile>National Football League, Historical Players, [http://www.nfl.com/players/ciatrickfason/profile?id=FAS474618 Ciatrick Fason]. Retrieved March 21, 2011.</ref> During his two years with the Vikings, he appeared in eighteen regular season games, rushing for 161 yards and five touchdowns on fifty carries.<ref name=pfrprofile/> 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 GM James 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.<ref>"[http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4228180 Eskimos sign pair of RB's, release one] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526004846/http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl%2Fnews%2Fnews.aspx%3Fid%3D4228180 |date=2011-05-26 }}," The Sports Network (April 24, 2009). Retrieved March 21, 2011.</ref><ref>Gerry Moddejonge, "[http://www.edmontonsun.com/sports/football/2009/06/20/9870391-sun.html Focus on Fason]," ''The Edmonton Sun'' (June 20, 2009). Retrieved March 21, 2011.</ref> He was released on June 25, 2009, re-signed on July 5, and released again on August 25.

== See also ==

{{Portal|American football||College football}} * List of Florida Gators in the NFL draft * List of Minnesota Vikings players {{clear}}

== References ==

== External links == * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20051111180812/http://web.gatorzone.com/football/bios.php?year=2004&sub=team&bio=fason.html Ciatrick Fason]}} – Florida Gators player profile * [http://www.nfl.com/player/ciatrickfason/2506450/profile Ciatrick Fason] – National Football League player profile

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fason, Ciatrick}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:American football running backs Category:Players of Canadian football from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Canadian football running backs Category:Edmonton Elks players Category:Florida Gators football players Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players Category:Minnesota Vikings players Category:Players of American football from Jacksonville, Florida Category:Players of American football from Atlanta Category:Players of Canadian football from Florida