Fresh off a Chuck Bednarik Award snub, Boston College's Luke Kuechly did receive some good news today.
Kuechly has been named one of six finalists for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's top linebacker. Kuechly is the only ACC player still in the 2011 Butkus Award mix, a list that includes three linebackers from the SEC, one from the Big Ten and one from Notre Dame.
Here's the complete list of finalists:
-- Nebraska's Lavonte David
-- Alabama's Don'ta Hightower
-- Alabama's Courtney Upshaw
-- Georgia's Jarvis Jones
-- Boston College's Luke Kuechly
-- Notre Dame's Manti Te'o
Last season, Kuechly was edged out by Texas A&M's Von Miller for the Butkus. Luke is the only of the six finalists to make the Butkus Award finalist list for the second consecutive season. Interestingly, Notre Dame's Manti Te'o won the Butkus Award in high school in 2008.
The 27th Butkus Award winner will be announced on December 7. Best of luck to #40.