Boston College Athletics
Kuechly Named Finalist For Bronko Nagurski Trophy
November 17, 2011 | Football
Nov. 17, 2011
Boston College junior linebacker Luke Kuechly has been named one of five finalists for the 2011 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which will be presented December 12 to the national defensive player of the year. The award is presented by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
Kuechly, who was also a finalist for the award in 2010, 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 an FBS-leading 32 in a row.
The other finalists include:
Mark Barron, Free Safety, Alabama, 6-2, 218, Sr. (Mobile, Ala.): An anchor of a Crimson Tide defense that ranks No. 1 nationally in the four major statistical categories - rush defense, pass defense, total defense and scoring defense. Barron, a 2010 FWAA All-America, has made 57 tackles this season (33 unassisted) for the once-beaten team. Barron has two interceptions and has made four tackles for seven yards in losses. He has five passes broken up and one quarterback hurry. He had an interception and a fumble recovery in a victory at Penn State.
Morris Claiborne, Cornerback, LSU, 6-0, 185, Jr. (Shreveport, La.): One of the stalwarts on a Tiger unit that ranks among the top six teams in college football in rush, pass, scoring and total defense. He has four interceptions with 128 yards in returns and one touchdown. He has made 38 tackles (22 unassisted) and collected one stop for a loss. Claiborne has broken up five passes and has registered one quarterback hurry. In a 19-6 victory over Mississippi State, he intercepted two passes.
Whitney Mercilus, End, Illinois, 6-4, 265, Jr. (Akron, Ohio): Illinois started the season 6-0 and Mercilus is one of the big reasons. He ranks fourth in the country in tackles for loss (17.5). Those tackles total 93 yards in losses, of which 12.5 are sacks (82 yards in losses). He has forced seven fumbles to lead the nation. He has six quarterback hurries and one pass breakup for college football's No. 9 team in total defense (288.3 yards a game). Overall, he has made 47 total tackles (24 assisted).
Devon Still, Tackle, Penn State, 6-5, 310, Sr. (Wilmington, Del.): Penn State's defense ranks third in points allowed (12.9 per game), trailing only Alabama and LSU. And the Nittany Lions' defense is eighth nationally in yards allowed per game (287.2). Still has been the defensive leader and ranks sixth in the country in tackles for loss (16.5) for 75 yards, of which four are sacks for 34 yards in losses. He has one pass breakup and one forced fumble. He has 53 total tackles (25 assisted).
The award is named after Bronko Nagurski, who dominated college football at the University of Minnesota as a bruising fullback and defensive tackle from 1927-29.
