82 KEVIN KASPER Wide Receiver

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Kevin Kasper showed great skill and toughness in his rookie season, and looks to build on that and take his game to the next level in 2002. He provided great depth at a position that was beset by injury last year, and started four games among his 10 appearances. Kasper finished the year with eight receptions for 84 yds. (10.5), including a long of 15, and established himself as a dangerous kick-return threat with an average of 26.6 yds. on 14 returns (372 yds.) with a long of 37. He won the kick-return job to start the season before missing six games with a severely sprained ankle, and ranked among the league leaders at the time of his injury. Kasper was chosen by Denver in the sixth round (190th overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft, out of Iowa.

2001: Kasper played in 10 games and started four, catching eight passes for 84 yds. (10.5) with a long of 21. He also made six special teams tackles, and returned 14 kickoffs for 372 yards (26.57) with a long of 37. Kaspers 26.57 kickoff-return average was the eighth-best mark for a season in franchise history (min. 14 returns) and the best since 1995 (Glyn Milburn, 27.00). He caught one pass for seven yards in the season finale at Ind. (1/6), and returned two kicks for 44 yards. Kasper started vs. Oak. (12/30) and caught a career-high two passes for the third game in a row, for 15 yards (7.5). He also returned his first kickoffs since his early-season injury, returning three for 93 yards (21.0) while sharing the position with Chris Cole. Kasper started at K.C. (12/16) and tied his career high with two receptions for a career-best 30 yds., aided by a career-best 21-yd. reception in the 3rd qtr. He also rushed twice for -8 yds. against the Chiefs. Kasper caught two passes vs. Sea. (12/9), for 15 yds. (7.5), and gained 27 yds. on a double-reverse for his first NFL rushing attempt. He made his first NFL start at Mia. (12/2), in place of the injured Keith Poole (ribs). Kasper returned to action the week before at Dal. (11/22) after a six-week absence due to a severe ankle sprain. He sprained his right ankle in the 1st qtr. vs. K.C. (10/7) and did not return to the game. Kasper caught his first NFL pass vs. Balt. (9/30) for 17 yds., and also returned five kickoffs for 165 yds. (33.0), with a long of 37. At Ariz. (9/23) he had a 97-yd. return called back because of a penalty, but came back to post two returns for 53 yds. (26.5) and saw time at receiver. He also tallied three tackles on special teams. In his professional debut vs. the Giants (9/10) Kasper returned one kickoff for 29 yds. and posted three special teams tackles. He also saw action in a reserve role on offense.

COLLEGE: Kasper was regarded as one of the most talented but underrated wide receivers in the 2001 NFL Draft, coming out of Iowa. A first-team All-Big Conference selection and two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Kasper played in 44 career games (21 starts) and is the schools all-time receptions leader (157) while ranking fourth on the career receiving yards chart (1,974). His 82 receptions as a senior rank No. 1 on the Hawkeyes all-time single-season list and led the Big Ten that year, while his 1,010 yards rank second on the schools single-season chart. Kasper caught at least one pass in 32 of his final 33 games and is one of seven players in school history to gain more than 600 yards receiving in more than one season (also 664 yds. as a junior in 1999). He was a walk-on in 1996 and redshirted that year. He earned his bachelors degree in marketing from Iowa.

PERSONAL: Kasper lettered in football, wrestling and track at Hinsdale South High School in Hinsdale, Ill. He earned first-team all-conference and all-area acclaim, as well as team MVP honors, as a senior when he recorded 39 tackles with two interceptions, two blocked kicks and a fumble recovery as a defensive back and caught 38 passes for 604 yards, setting school records in both categories. He also averaged 23.8 yards on kickoff returns. Kasper finished his career with 70 tackles and three interceptions, while making 53 catches for 723 yards and rushing for 321 yards. Kevin Joseph Kasper was born Dec. 23, 1977 in Hinsdale, Ill. He resides in Englewood, Colo.

Kasper's Regular Season Record
				RECEIVING						KICKOFF RETURNS
Year	Club	G	S	No.	Yds.	Avg.	LG	TD		No.	Yds.	Avg.	LG	TD
2001	Denver	10	4	8	84	10.5	21	0		14	372	26.6	37	0

ADDITIONAL STATISTICS: Special Teams Tackles 2001 (6). Rushed twice for -8 yds. at Kansas City, 12/16/01 and once for 27 yds. vs. Seattle, 12/9/01; TOTALS: 3-19-6.3-27LG.

Kasper's Single Game Highs

Most receptions 2 vs. Oakland, 12/30/01, at Kansas City, 12/16/01 and vs. Seattle, 12/9/01. Most receiving yards 30 at Kansas City, 12/16/01. Longest reception 21 at Kansas City, 12/16/01. Most Kickoff Returns 5 vs. Baltimore, 9/30/01. Most Kickoff Return Yards 165 vs. Baltimore, 9/30/01. Longest Kickoff Return 37 vs. Baltimore, 9/30/01.