ENMU Running Back Dreams of Playing Professional Ball

Alisa Boswell, ENMU Athletics Correspondent

Fans have heard his name rumble through the Eastern New Mexico University Greyhound Stadium many times, as he’s set touchdown and rushing records.

Before he enrolled at ENMU, Kamal Cass rewrote the record books at Clovis High School, where he was selected as the 2012 Gatorade Player of the Year for New Mexico after he rushed for 2,081 yards and 26 touchdowns. As a freshman at ENMU, he rushed for 148 yards on 37 attempts and had three receptions for 11 yards. As a sophomore, he set a team record of 1,514 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns and was named First Team Don Hansen All-America and First Team All-Lone Star Conference. His junior year brought him many more all-star titles, with Cass rushing for 1,191 yards and 14 touchdowns.

As the 22-year-old senior prepares to leave ENMU in May, he’s got one thing on his mind more than anything else – playing pro football.

“Football has just always been with me ever since I was little,” said Cass. “I grew up watching it, and I’m a naturally competitive person, so I think football just naturally brings out the best in me.”

Cass is so driven to continue with his football career that he began making calls to find out how he could get into a pro day where NCAA Division II and III football players from smaller universities throughout the country play for NFL scouts. “Since we (Eastern) don’t have a pro day, I had to call around to see what pro day I could go to,” he said. “That’s really the only way you’re going to get your name out there. It’s always been my dream (to play pro ball).”

Photo by Alisa Boswell

Cass participated in the Dream Bowl all-star game in Roanoke, Virginia, Jan. 10-15, and he plans to attend a pro day on April 4, which entails his performing and working out in front of NFL scouts who will determine whether he makes it to the pros or not. “It went a lot better than I thought it would,” Cass said of the all-star game. “I met a lot of good people. The game went really good. Right now, I am just playing it by ear to see what happens.”

If he does not make it into pro ball, Cass is not sure what he plans to do with his degree in broadcast journalism. He’s just glad his parents encouraged him to come.

“Before attending ENMU, I was actually thinking about not going to college. I wanted to play division one football or no football at all. My parents told me, at least go to college and play football,” Cass said. “I am grateful for that, for them telling me to go to college, because it has definitely benefited me.”

Cass said being in college has taught him to better prioritize and manage his time.

“I’m just extremely happy for him. He deserves all of the accolades he’s earned,” said ENMU Head Coach Kelley Lee. “He has been a completely unselfish team player, and it’s nice to see a guy like that get some individual awards because he’s always put the team first. He was a team player from the get-go.”