By Nick Eatman

The dream season for Johnny Knox went to yet another level Sunday night.

      Not only did the former Abilene Christian star get drafted by Chicago in last year's fifth-round. Not only did he carve a niche for himself as a return specialist and receiver for the Bears. But if that wasn't enough, Knox officially wrapped up his rookie season Sunday by playing in the Pro Bowl against the best players in the NFL.

      Knox, the only representative from the Bears to play in the game, was added to the NFC roster as an alternate kick returner. Knox had four returns for 103 yards (25.8 avg.), including a 30-yard return. He also received several snaps at receiver, although he didn't record a catch despite two passes thrown his way.

      He did suffer a minor ankle injury, which won't be a big issue for the off-season, but limited Knox in the second half, as his NFC squad fell short to the AFC 41-34 in front of 70,697 at Sun Life Stadium - the second-largest crowd in Pro Bowl history.

      All in all, the rookie from ACU said just making it to the Pro Bowl was a dream come true.

      "It felt good to be out there tonight. It's still kind of weird to be playing in this game," Knox said. "It all happened so fast. But I felt real comfortable. I just wish I could've made a few more plays. But this experience is something I'll always have with me."

      While it might have felt like a fast experience for Knox, that's because it was. Just last week he was informed about the possibility of playing in the game because he was the second alternate at return specialist.

      "I knew it was close and that I could get the call. I just waited and hoped for it," said Knox. "And when they called and said I'd be going to the Pro Bowl, I was just really excited."

Knox at Pro Bowl practice

      Among the qualifiers with enough attempts, Knox finished third in the NFL this season with a 29.0 yard return average. He was just behind Tampa Bay's Clifton Smith (29.1) and Bernard Scott, who ironically enough was a teammate of Knox last year at ACU.  But no player with as many attempts as Knox (32) had a better average.

      "I felt like I had a good season this year," Knox said. "I always had the confidence that I could make it to this level. But making it to the Pro Bowl was really just a long-term goal. I really surprised myself by being here and having a pretty good season as a rookie."

      While getting to the NFL is a huge accomplishment for any college, particularly in Division II, it's starting to become more of a trend for Lone Star Conference players. This past year, the NFL had at least 15 players from the LSC.

      "Before I got to this point, I noticed guys like (Packers cornerback) Al Harris," Knox said. "Not only are they in the league, but doing well in the league. It let me know that it's possible to make it there if you work hard. And that's what I tried to do."

      In fact, in one game this year between the Bengals and Bears, there were three players from ACU alone. The Bears have Knox and defensive back Danieal Manning, who was a second-round pick of the Bears in 2006, while Scott was a sixth-round pick of the Bengals this past April.

      "It was real fun because you probably won't see that much - with three Division II guys playing in one game in the NFL," Knox recalled. "And then to have three on one team, that's really rare. It was fun to see Bernard Scott and being able to compete against each other in one game."

      While his teammates often give him a hard time because of his small-school status, Knox said he tends to shy away from the Saturday-afternoon chatter during football season when players brag about their alma maters.

      "Nah, I kind of stay out of those conversations because I can't really compete against those big schools," Knox said. "But I'm proud of being from ACU. We have a great program and we're very successful in our level. I know we put our pads on the same way. I don't regret going to Abilene at all, because I'm here just like everyone else."