The Boston College Eagles didn't have a fantastic season, but that didn't prevent voters for the Butkus Award from noticing Luke Kuechly. The BC linebacker has backed up his fantastic freshman and sophomore campaigns with an even better junior season, winning the 2011 Butkus Award, given annually to college football's best linebacker.
Butkus Award 2011: Luke Kuechly Of Boston College Wins Honor
Luke Kuechly has won the 2011 Butkus Award, given to the nation’s best linebacker
Kuechly beat out Jarvis Jones of the Georgia Bulldogs, Lavonte David and Manti Te'o of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Anchoring a defense that was otherwise average, Kuechley recorded an incredible 191 tackles, 101 of which were solo tackles. That was good enough to make him the leading tackler in the country.
Kuechly was a unanimous All-American in 2010 as a sophomore and was an All-Freshman team performer in the previous season. Von Miller was the winner of last year's Butkus Award.
For more on Kuechly and BC, check out Boston College Eagles blog BC Interruption.
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