On Thursday, the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club announced the five finalists for the 2011 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded to the FWAA's National Defensive Player of the Year. Boston College's Luke Kuechly was named one of five finalists for the award, joining Alabama safety Mark Barron, LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, Illinois end Whitney Mercilus and Penn State tackle Devon Still.
Here's Kuechly's bio.
Luke Kuechly, Linebacker, Boston College, 6-3, 237, Jr. (Cincinnati, Ohio): He has 168 tackles - 30 more than anyone else in the nation. He has 89 unassisted and 79 assisted tackles. His unassisted total leads the nation. He also has two interceptions, 10 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and two quarterback hurries. He has double-digit tackles in every game this season. He has played in 36 career games and has had double-digit tackles in 33, including 32 in a row. Kuechly was also a Nagurski finalist in 2010.
In addition to being a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Kuechly is a finalist for the Bednarik (most outstanding defensive player by the Maxwell Football Club), Butkus Award (most outstanding linebacker by the Butkus Foundation), Walter Camp Award (most outstanding player by the Walter Camp Foundation), Rotary Lombardi (most outstanding down lineman by the Rotary Club of Houston) and ... deep breath ... the Lott Trophy (defensive IMPACT Player of the Year).
The Nagurski Trophy winner will be announced on Dec. 12 at a gala banquet at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, N.C., where Georgia head coach Mark Richt will be the keynote speaker.