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3. Luke Kuechly

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3. Luke Kuechly
Luke Kuechly was the team's starting Middle Linebacker since he was drafted ninth overall from Boston College and he would be named the Defensive Rookie of the Year. 

Kuechly immediately was the leader of the Panthers' defense, and in 2013 (his second year in the NFL) he was a First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler for the first time, and he was named the Defensive Player of the Year.  Kuechly remained a dominant star for Carolina, and he has been a First Team All-Pro five of his last seven seasons.  Over the 2010s, Kuechly staked a claim as the game's top interior Linebacker, driving Offensive Coordinators crazy as Kurchly gobbled up attackers at will.  A two-time leader in Tackles, Kuchley never had a year where he had less than 100 Tackles per Season, and he sucked up 18 Interceptions over his career.

Kuechly retired after the 2019 Season, and it was arguably early, as he was still under 30, a Pro Bowl Selection and the seventh in a row.  It will be a long time before Kuechly is supplanted as the best defensive player in Panthers history, and it is even more impressive considering the relative brevity of his career.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Linebacker
  • Acquired: Selected in the 1st Round, 9th Overall in the NFL Draft 4/26/13.
  • Departed: Retired 1/14/20
  • Games Played: 118
  • Notable Statistics:

    118 Games Started
    18 Interceptions
    168 Interception Return Yards
    1 Interception Return Touchdown
    7 Forced Fumbles
    9 Fumble Recoveries
    43 Fumble Recovery Yards
    1 Fumble Recovery Touchdown
    12.5 Quarterback Sacks
    1,092 Combined Tackles
    690 Solo Tackles
    402 Assisted Tackles
    75 Tackles for Loss
    31 Quarterback Hits
    104 Approximate Value

    7 Playoff Games
    3 Interceptions
    37 Interception Return Yards
    2 Interception Return Touchdowns
    1 Fumble Recovery
    0 Fumble Recovery Yards
    2.0 Quarterback Sacks
    61 Combined Tackles
    28 Solo Tackles
    33 Assisted Tackles
    4 Tackles for Loss
    3 Quarterback Hits

  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    AP Defensive Player of the Year (2013)
    The Sporting News Player of the Year (2013)
    First Team All-Pro (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 & 2018)
    Second Team All-Pro (2016 & 2019)
    Pro Bowl (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018)
    AP Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012)
    PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012)
    All-Rookie (2012)
    Most Combined Tackles (2012 & 2014)

Last modified on Sunday, 07 August 2022 16:24

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