After watching Johnny Knox’s heroics on the turf at Shotwell, every ACU fan now has a reason to watch the NFL, or at least the Chicago Bears.

Knox is quickly becoming a very relevant part of the Bears’ passing attack, after being drafted as a project in the fifth round of the 2009 draft.

Knox’s numbers have been solid by veteran standards, even though he is just a rookie. In Week One, it looked like he wouldn’t even be on the active roster, but when the Bears’ No. 3 wide receiver Devin Aromashodu was injured in the opener against Green Bay, Knox got his chance. He quickly showed the league they should pay attention to him. He torched Charles Woodson, who is considered one of the top shutdown corners in the game. Knox finished the game with two catches for 82 yards, second on the team.

It is not just his burning speed that has the Bears raving about him. Following the Bears’ upset of defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh – in which Knox led the team with six catches for 70 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown – ESPN columnist Jon Greenberg quoted the team’s tight end Greg Olsen as saying, “He is not just a fast guy running around. He catches the ball well; he runs routes well. He’s a very good all-around receiver.”

During that game, I found myself scanning every offensive play for No. 13, just to make sure he was still getting on the field. My friends and I would be talking or working on homework, but when the Bears offense was on the field and Knox was in the game, it was time to watch. I am surprised no one came and yelled at us for yelling at the T.V. every time a ball was thrown within 20 yards of him.

But, his first two games have not been all smooth sailing. After losing to the Packers, Knox drew criticism from many people for breaking off a route that led to a game-ending interception by cornerback Al Harris.  Knox said after the game he knew that he should have tried to break up the pass. I am willing to chalk that up to a rookie mistake and to an absolutely horrible idea by quarterback Jay Cutler to attempt that pass.

The next goal for Knox is to be dubbed a second day gem by college scouting god Mel Kiper Jr. at next year’s draft coverage.