Luke Kuechly named ACC Male Athlete of the Year

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Link: http://www.theacc.com/genrel/073112aad.html

GREENSBORO, N.C. (ACSMA) -- Boston College football player Luke Kuechly, the ninth overall pick of this spring's NFL Draft, and Becca Ward, a three-time All-American in fencing at Duke, have earned the top honors bestowed upon ACC athletes for 2011-12 in voting by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA).

Kuechly, who established several NCAA tackling records over his three-year career, is the winner of the 59th Anthony J. McKevlin Award as the ACC's premier male athlete. He becomes the first recipient cited exclusively for his work as a defensive player in football.

Kuechly received 13 votes from the 31-member electorate. Florida State baseball player James Ramsey, named on seven ballots, finished second.

Kuechly is one of the most decorated defenders in ACC history. In his third and final season on The Heights in 2011, the linebacker from Cincinnati, Ohio established three NCAA records: total tackles per game over a career (14); total tackles per game in a season (15.92); and assisted tackles per game over a career (6.14). He also stands second in total tackles in a career (532) and in a season (191 in 2011) and in solo stops per game over a career (7.87).

The 6-foot-3, 242-pound linebacker adds to a trophy case that includes four individual honors from 2011: the Bronco Nagurski and Lott IMPACT Trophies, given to college football's top defensive player; the Dick Butkus Award as the best linebacker; and the Lombardi Award for the premier lineman or inside linebacker.

The Eagles finished 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the ACC this past fall, and Kuechly's incessant production and sideline-to-sideline harassment of opposing ball-carriers helped BC finish strong. After a 1-6 start to the campaign, the Eagles won three of their final five games, earning ACC victories over NC State and at Maryland and Miami.

Kuechly is the first Boston College athlete to win the McKevlin or Garber Award. The Eagles began ACC competition in 2005-06. The Carolina Panthers made Kuechly the first linebacker taken in the 2012 draft.

Kuechly's selection for the McKevlin is the 15th by a football player and the first since NC State quarterback Philip Rivers' victory in 2004.

Kuechly is the fifth football defender with his name on the McKevlin plaque, but he is the first to build a resume entirely around that side of the ball and in that sport.

[Jackofalltrades]

WE KNOW!!!1!!11!!!1

[Argus Plexus]

Totally needed 4 threads for one story.