WR Monk looks forward to Bears camp

LEPANTO, Ark. -- It was not that long ago that Lepanto native Marcus Monk sat in his backyard and dreamed about playing professional football. Monk's dream is now a reality as the former Arkansas wide receiver is about to enter training camp after being drafted by the Chicago Bears in April's NFL Draft.

"It was a great feeling," Monk said before a weekend charity basketball game. "It was just an honor and blessing to just be picked anywhere. Obviously, everyone wants to be picked early, but just being picked is a great feeling."

Monk said that before the draft was over he had been in contact with several teams about the possibility of signing as a free agent. He also said that teams still had questions about a knee injury that caused him to miss all but six games of his senior season.

"I really wasn't nervous, he said. "I just kept trying to stay positive and keep a good attitude about the situation and once I got picked it was just a great feeling.

"When you look at the big picture you have a whole lot of guys that want to get drafted and only 280 get the chance and I get to say that I was one of those few."

Monk's spot on the roster is anything but guaranteed, however. Chicago will enter training camp with eight wide receivers on its roster and Monk is aware that it will take a lot of work and training to earn a spot at the conclusion of camp.

One area in which he hopes to stand out is on special teams. Monk said he has been working hard to improve his skills in the special teams area and knows that he could make an impact on the Bears by showing he can be versatile. "It is just all about learning," Monk said. "You think you know a lot, but once you get out there you realize there are a whole bunch of small things you still need help with. Like playing special teams is something that I never did, but is more than likely what I will end up having to do."

Monk has gone through two mini-camps already this year and said he was preparing to leave on Tuesday for the start of training camp on Wednesday. Chicago's 23-day camp will feature 19 days of practice and one preseason game against Kansas City on Aug. 7.

"I am just ready to get back on the field and continue learning," Monk said. "I just want to try and work hard and earn a spot on the team. My goal is to make the 53-man roster and I am going to have to work hard to do it."

The transition from small-town life to a big city is something Monk said he will just have to adjust to. Monk will not be alone in the move as his teammate at Arkansas, Marcus Harrison, will also move to Chicago after being drafted as the 90th overall pick. Monk set several school records at Arkansas, including a freshman record of 37 catches. He also caught 11 touchdowns in his junior season, more than any other wide receiver in Arkansas history.

Monk also said he wants to give back to his community every chance he gets, which is why he put together Saturday night's charity basketball event.

"I was just trying to come up with a way that I could help on short notice and it doesn't take a lot to put a basketball game together with everyone coming out and showing support," he said. "The main objective is to just help the kids and help progress in the Lepanto and Marked Tree school districts."

Monk said he hopes to continue the event in the coming years and will eventually add camps in the future for kids to attend.