“After my junior year in high school is when I realized I could be alright,” says Luke Kuechly. Sitting at a high top in Lower, the linebacker described as “one of the most prolific tacklers in ACC and NCAA history” by BCEagles.com, couldn’t be more modest.
As the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 15.92 tackles a game for BC with a total of 191 tackles and 532 stops just three years into his career, Kuechly is a household name in BC football and in college football nationwide.
In fact, just this weekend, former Chicago Bear and Football Hall of Famer, Dick Butkis, honored Kuechly by surprising him with the 27th annual Butkis Award. The Award is presented to the nation’s top linebacker. No big deal.
An excerpt from BCEagles.com quotes the publisher of Pro Football Weekly, Hurb Arkush, making this statement about Kuechly and the award: “’He embodies the spirit of the Butkis Award, bringing tremendous intensity, competitiveness and leadership to the field, while continuing a legacy of outstanding linebacker play at Boston College.’”
But where did it all begin?
After a childhood of playing football, Kuechly started the recruitment process his junior year at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, OH. Before landing on BC, however, the linebacker considered many schools, most seriously looking into Stanford, Duke, and Virginia.
So what made Kuechly choose Chestnut Hill? Its great academic standing and small size were among his reasons, but there was something else, something even more special about BC that the other institutions simply did not have. “St. X was a Jesuit school, so that was a big factor,” says Kuechly, who places a high value on Jesuit education. He even identifies many of his best friends as Jesuit high school alumni, as we go on a tangent about our love for our Jesuit education.
Kuechly also credits the many St. Xavier alumni who have played and currently play for BC as important influences. Alex Albright was one of these players. Kuechly would call him and ask questions about his experience at BC throughout recruitment.
“It was a comfort thing, you know. They played here, and they loved it, so I thought, ‘why can’t I too?’” he says.
Three years into his career, Kuechly has made quite a name and place for himself in BC’s Alumni Stadium. “It’s been fun, and it’s flying by,” Kuechly says smiling. “You come in as a freshman and you have no idea what’s going on. Three years later, this is my team, this is my home, this is where I belong.” The three years, however, have been pretty busy for Kuechly, as for any Division I college athlete. An average day for the linebacker consists of an early lift, class until noon, a lucky nap, and practice until 5:45 p.m.
“You play football. That’s all you do,” says Kuechly. But apparent in his obvious love for the game and team, Kuechly would have it no other way. After this summer’s intense workouts of pushing sleds, climbing stairs, and everything in between, the campus was buzzing about Kuechly’s fantastic progress. And, well, the progress showed… to say the least.
Kuechly had yet another incredible season, impressing football fans, coaches, and players game after game with fantastic statistics. In fact, according to BCEagles.com, Kuechly is on track to claim the record for career tackles per game.
The site also highlights that throughout the past three years, Kuechly has averaged 14 stops a game. This stunning feat is 13 percent better than the current NCAA record.
Despite his success, Kuechly remains as humble and focused as ever. “I don’t feel like I’m different, “ he shrugs. “I just play football.”
You’re wondering what’s in the future for this national football stud? “It seems to be the million dollar question,” he laughs.
Photo Source:
bloodsox.blogspot.com