Chris Gasper of the Globe had a article on this same topic today.
Luke Kuechly could be BC’s best-ever pro
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2016/ ... story.htmlSAN FRANCISCO — The best linebacker in the National Football League used to eat at Eagle’s Deli in Cleveland Circle and has a hunger for greatness that will be on display in Super Bowl 50.
Boston College isn’t exactly Alabama or Ohio State, but the school has produced some notable NFL players. Luke Kuechly might already be BC’s best NFL-er ever.
A guy whose job is to create collisions for the Carolina Panthers is on a collision course with Canton, Ohio. The inimitable, late Art Donovan of the Baltimore Colts and the late Ernie Stautner of the Pittsburgh Steelers are the only Boston College products in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“I don’t know about the best player. We’ve had a lot of good guys come out,” said Kuechly. “We’ve had some linebackers come out. Bill Romanowski was a great player. Mark Herzlich has been a great player. Matt Ryan, Gosder Cherilus, Anthony Castonzo, I’m sure I’m missing guys.
“Doug Flutie, I think to me, is Mr. BC. He has a statue in front of the stadium. He has won the Heisman. He is going to go down as one of the players that had one of the all-time plays in college football history. If you talk about people from Boston College, Doug Flutie is still the guy.
Here’s what you need to know about this year’s Super Bowl as well as the game’s history and random tidbits.
Flutie is a BC deity, His Highness of The Heights, Mr. Hail Mary, an iconic college football player. But he was never considered the standard at his position in the NFL, a league that never game him a fair shake.
Kuechly’s case for all-time bragging rights at The Heights would be bolstered if the Panthers defeat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 on Sunday in Santa Clara.
Don’t let Kuechly see his name and “brag” in the same sentence.
On a team known for its entertaining on-field antics, swashbuckling swagger, and bold statements, Kuechly is the straight man with the curly locks, his version of a playoff beard.
The 24-year-old looks like a mild-mannered Clark Kent and plays middle linebacker like Superman. That on-field alter ego belongs to Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. So Newton christened Kuechly with another superhero sobriquet — Captain America.
Whatever nickname you give him, Kuechly has been a boy wonder chasing down ball carriers.
After setting a school record for tackles at Boston College with 532 in three seasons, Kuechly led the NFL in tackles as a rookie in 2012, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.
The other pure linebackers to win both those awards are (gulp) Jack Lambert, Lawrence Taylor, and Brian Urlacher.
Since he entered the league, no player has been credited with more tackles than Kuechly’s 591 or among linebackers snared more interceptions — 14, including the playoffs.
“He looks like he is 12 years old, but he is a grown man,” said Carolina defensive end Jared Allen. “Luke is awesome. He is just so intelligent. He is one of those Urlacher, Ray Lewis, generational type of player that, as long as he stays healthy, is going impact this league at a totally different level.”
Kuechly is the heart, soul, and nerve center of Carolina’s defense, which led the NFL in turnovers this season with 39 and finished in the top 10 in total defense for the fourth straight year, a streak that coincides with Kuechly’s arrival.
The Panthers put a lot on Kuechly’s plate.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 238-pound Kuechly is the prototypical linebacker for the modern NFL. He can stop running backs cold in the hole or run 40 yards downfield with a receiver.
He led the Panthers in tackles this season, despite missing 3½ games with a concussion, and had as many interceptions (four) as Carolina All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman.
Kuechly snagged interceptions in Carolina’s playoff wins over Seattle and Arizona, becoming the first player in NFL history with interception return touchdowns in back-to-back games in the same postseason. He also had a pick-6 in the regular season.
“Fortunately for me, there hasn’t been a whole lot of traffic for me getting in once I get the ball,” said Kuechly.
In part, what makes Kuechly great are his preternatural instincts. Those instincts compelled Kuechly to pick BC over Duke, Virginia, and Stanford coming out of Cincinnati’s St. Xavier High School.
“I thought Boston was a neat area. It was a Jesuit school, something that I was familiar with. It just felt right,” said Kuechly. “That’s the biggest thing for me. As an 18-year-old kid trying to pick a school, my parents, especially my dad, wanted me to have a list of reasons why I liked one and a list of reasons why I didn’t like one. I wasn’t really able to do that. I just knew it felt right. That was the best way for me to describe it.”
Kuechly has a tremendous feel for the game and watches enough film to be an Oscars judge. But Panthers safety Kurt Coleman said Kuechly doesn’t get enough credit for his freakish athleticism.
Coleman said that the team had a box jump competition in the offseason and Kuechly won.
“Luke is a freak,” said Coleman. “I’m glad he is on my team. He is a great competitor. I know if all else fails, Luke is probably going to be in the right spot.”
Being in the right spot will be vital Sunday. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, the maestro of the line of scrimmage, is going to give Kuechly a lot to chew on.
Kuechly used to do quite a bit of chewing at Eagle’s Deli.
“We went there quite a bit. That was a good spot. They always gave you tons of food,” said Kuechly.
Kuechly has moved on to devouring offensive game plans and providing food for thought about his place in BC lore
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 11:01 am