Boston College Athletics
Kuechly Looks To Lead In 2010
August 17, 2010 | Football
Aug. 17, 2010
It might seem strange to think of sophomore linebacker Luke Kuechly as a leader for the Eagles, but stranger things have happened to this team--a 25-year-old freshman quarterback, for example.
Kuechly may be younger than many of his teammates but if his breakout 2009 season is any indication, he is someone who might have something valuable to say. The 19-year-old Cincinnati native Coach Frank Spaziani calls "Boy Wonder" will be a key component in this season's linebacking corps that is projected to possibly be one of the strongest in the nation. After an unexpectedly stellar first season, it may be harder for Kuechly to fly under the radar, but it's a challenge he's excited to face.
"It's going to be fun, it's going to be exciting," Kuechly said. "I'm a little more comfortable this year, which I think will help. I just have to stay mentally tough. As long as you stay with the team and try to get better, and learn from what the coaches are telling you, you might not be as good as last year but the things that go unnoticed are the things that will help you grow."
He has the support of senior LB Mark Herzlich, who has been helping Kuechly perfect his game while he waits on the sidelines for the okay to practice.
"He knows the plays and his responsibilities; it's just the little things, studying the game film and learning," Herzlich said. "If I can help him learn that, it will just make him that much better of a player. It's not about competition amongst each other. We're working together to make the best linebacker corps in the country. We're trying to just both play the same and get to where we need to win."
When asked about Herzlich, Kuechly responded in a similar vein to Spaziani, who has reiterated to the press that while he hopes for Herzlich's imminent return, he is not planning his defense around it.
"We can't worry too much about [Mark's return]," Kuechly said. "We've just got to trust each other and come back as a unit."
Herzlich's mentorship has proven invaluable to Kuechly, who said, "what he says you've got to listen to because he knows what he's talking about."
It is that kind of mix of confidence, experience, and leadership that Kuechly himself is now expected to embody for the 2010 squad's newest additions.
"You just have to realize what guys have done before you," he said. "So you say these guys helped me out, now it's my turn to help the younger guys. Pass on the future of the program."
