Boston College's Kevin Pierre-Louis On Bronko Nagurski Watch List

Kevin Pierre-Louis will attempt to do the near impossible this season -- replace Luke Kuechly's production in the linebacking corps this season. If he's successful, he may just keep a major piece of defensive hardware at the Heights for another year.

On Thursday, KPL was one of 84 players named to the 2012 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. The award is given annually to the nation's best defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America. Kuechly became the first Boston College player to win the award in 2011.

He has played and started in 22 games over his first two seasons on the Heights. KPL started in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2010 and nine games last season, missing the Maryland, Florida State and N.C. State games due to injury. KPL has registered 167 career tackles in 22 career games, including 96 solo tackles and 10 TFLs. At his current clip, Pierre-Louis would finish career ranked in the Top 10 on the school's all-time tackle list. Pretty good production if not for being overshadowed by Kuechly the past two seasons.

This makes the second Boston College player to make a watch list with Chris Pantale on the John Mackey Award list. KPL is one of 11 ACC defenders on the Nagurski watch list, including four players on Florida State's D.

The winner will be announced Dec. 3 at the Westin in Charlotte.