Luke Kuechly is following in the footsteps of other great Boston College prospects before him in his preparations for the 2012 NFL Draft, but it's likely he will be among the top BC prospects chosen in the last few years. That's because the linebacker's game is complete all the way around and it's likely he will be the first inside linebacker off of the board come April. For a team with a hole next to Derrick Johnson in the linebacking corps, that call might come from the Kansas CIty Chiefs.
Kuechly had 191 tackles this season, two short of the single season record, and is a two-time All American linebacker. Now he's prepping in the same way that guys like Anthony Castonzo did last season -- with IMG.
"Though he has passed up his senior season, the 6-foot-3-inch, 238-pounder is conducting business the same way he dealt with football: relentlessly," writes Mark Blaudschun. 'I’m down here doing what Anthony [Castonzo, former BC tackle] and Mark [Herzlich, former BC linebacker] did,’ said Kuechly by phone from Florida. 'I’m just working out, getting ready for the combine.' Both Herzlich, who is now with the New York Giants as they prepare to play in the NFC Championship game, and Castonzo, who was a first-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts last spring, worked out at IMG in preparation for their NFL careers."
The Chiefs, who already had a special defense last season, would appreciate Kuechly's efforts in the one spot on the field where there's still some improvement to make among its linebackers. Derrick Johnson also came out at season's end and said he hoped for some youth beside him as he and Hali come back for another season. Perhaps an investment like Kuechly is what is needed.