Since the end of the 2011 regular season, Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly has been named the winner of the Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Award, Butkus Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Nobel Peace Prize, hauling in a Pulitzer for good measure as well.
Unfortunately for BC fans, their will be no repeat of the hardware haul, at least at the collegiate level.
During a teleconference Friday evening, Kuechly announced that he will forego his senior season and enter the NFL draft. Kuechly had wavered back and forth over his decision, but ultimately the opportunity to play at the top-level of football -- and likely be, at worst, a top-20 selection in the April draft -- proved to be the overriding factor given all he had already accomplished at BC.
“It’s tough to end one thing and start another,” Kuechly said. “It was a really tough decision. The biggest thing for me was talking to my family.”
In addition to the numerous trophies and awards, Kuechly was a consensus All-American and has led the country in tackles each of the past two seasons.