Naperville Central: January 2009 Archives

Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels has been added to the AFC Pro Bowl roster as a replacement for the injured Antonio Gates.

Daniels found out Wednesday afternoon that the San Diego Chargers tight end was backing out from the trip to Hawaii. The Naperville Central graduate told HoustonTexans.com: "It's really exciting. I can't wipe the smile off my face right now, honestly. It's going to be cool to go out there and play with all the best players in the league."

Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels did his part, catching 70 passes for 862 yards before becoming a restricted free agent this offseason. But given the economy, an unsettled labor situation and the possibility of an uncapped year in 2010, it will be interesting to see how NFL teams spend money across the next few months.

Daniels, the former Naperville Central quarterback, tells HoustonTexans.com that he would like to remain in Texas.

"I'd love to be here for a long time," Daniels said. "That's not completely up to me, but I'd definitely love to stay in Houston. I really like our team, I like our coaches, I like the guys and I think we're going in the right direction."

Northwestern offensive line coach Bret Ingalls will jump to the NFL and work for Naperville native Sean Payton in New Orleans. The Saints will get an assistant who apparently had some good connections in the Chicago suburbs.

ESPN.com Big Ten writer Adam Rittenberg reports in his blog:

(Ingalls) coached the Big Ten's youngest line this season and got decent results, as Northwestern tied for second in the league in fewest sacks allowed (22) and went 9-4. Ingalls' biggest contributions have come as a recruiter, as he helped land top line prospects like Brian Mulroe (Loyola), Nick Adamle (Wheaton North) and Jeff Radek (Neuqua Valley) last February.

Payton and Ingalls worked together at San Diego State in the late-1980s and early-1990s, helping develop a running back named Marshall Faulk.

Mount Carmel's Frank Lenti will be part of the coaching staff for an American junior national team. It will compete this summer in the 2009 International Federation of American Football Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio, according to a press release.

The team will be made up of 45 players from the 2009 graduating high school class. The 10-man coaching staff will meet next week in Nashville, Tenn., during the American Football Coaches Association's annual convention to discuss the potential roster and training camp schedule.

Lenti will coach the offensive line, and his Chicago teams certainly know the ground game. Last season Mount Carmel ran for 347 yards in a 42-21 first-round playoff victory over Naperville Central.