In our ongoing effort to get you to familiarize yourselves with the key players who will be counted upon to make an impact this season, we take a look today at one of the burgeoning stars of the Eagles, tight end Brent Celek. The 24-year old Celek, 6-4, 255, had a breakout 2009, his first full season as a starter. Celek paced the team with 76 receptions and totaled 971 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, and even bigger things are expected from the Cincinnati product moving forward.
1. Celek is not your run-of-the-mill last-resort possession receiver. Rather, he proved to be one of the most explosive tight ends in the league last season. Among the top 10 receiving tight ends in the league last season - Celek finished fourth - Celek had the second-highest yards per catch average of 12.8 (Antonio Gates was first with a 14.6 mark). Additionally, Celek again trailed only Gates with 16 plays of over 20 yards. Philly.com explored Celek's big play ability further.
2. In weeks 2 and 3 of last season, Celek became the first Eagles tight end since Pete Retzlaff in 1965 to have consecutive 100-yard receiving games. Against the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs, Celek had back-to-back games with eight catches for 104 yards. The best news about those two games? They were Kevin Kolb's two starts last season, so the connection between Kolb and Celek has already been demonstrated. Expect the two to combine a whole lot more in 2010.
3. Celek is a almost as prolific off the field as he is between the lines. A constant tweeter (follow him @BrentCelek), Celek's interests include the stock market, investing, reading and fishing. Celek's biggest influence off the field is probably the Take Flight Foundation he founded with his wife, Susie, this off-season. The organization's mission is to provide opportunities, support and resources to children and families in need throughout the Philadelphia area. Find out more at www.brentcelek.org.
-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 12:40 p.m., July 3
