Draft Diary: Boston College LB Luke Kuechly
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Draft Diary: Boston College LB Luke Kuechly
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
About this series: Over the next two months, I'll be chatting weekly with Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly and chronicling his preparation for April's NFL draft. This is the first installment.
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On Friday, January 6, Luke Kuechly announced from his hometown of Cincinnati that he would forgo his senior year at Boston College and enter the NFL draft.
Three days later, he was in front of a TV in Bradenton, Fla., watching the BCS title game and preparing for seven weeks of training, leading up to the combine in Indianapolis.
Kuechly, considered among the top inside linebacker prospects in the draft and a first-round prospect, called on other Boston College products like Mark Herzlich, Anthony Castonzo, Jamie Silva and Alex Albright when weighing his decision to turn pro.
"Everyone said, 'You’ve got to do what’s right for you,'" Kuechly said. "'You’ll know what the right decision is, what makes you happy.'"
And so he decided it was time to take the final steps in pursuing a dream that was rooted in his first days on the football field as a fourth grader.
The process has now moved to IMG Academy in Florida, where Kuechly and 29 other prospects like Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson and Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill spend their days training.
The techniques are different than what Kuechly was used to. At Boston College, training always carried with it a football focus, the idea being preparation leading to results on Saturdays.
But now, the focus is on the combine. Yes, there are football-specific drills. But the combine presents a specific set of predictable tests. With the right preparation, prospects will be ready for exactly what's thrown at them. From an athletic standpoint, that means Kuechly's working on his 40 time, plyometrics, stretching, footwork, making sure he maximizes his explosiveness.
From an off-the-field perspective, it means getting ready for the Wonderlic test and making sure he interviews well with coaches, general managers, scouts and personnel men.
Whichever team drafts Kuechly in April will do so based on the merits of his tape. For evaluators, tape is another word for production. Teams looking at Kuechly will see the nation's leading tackler in each of the past two seasons, averaging 15.92 tackles per game in 2011.
They'll see the winner of the Nagurski Award, given to the nation’s top defensive player. And the winner of the Butkus Award, given to the nation's top linebacker.
While Kuechly's production on the field has gotten him to this point, he realizes the combine is just part of the draft process.
"Size and speed," he answered, when asked what NFL teams are most likely to zero in on. "Those are the questions circling around. How big am I and how fast am I going to run."
The first question can already be answered. Kuechly said he's 6-2 and currently weighs around 241 or 242. He expects to be at 240 at the combine. The second question will be answered in Indy.
As for draft projections, ESPN's Mel Kiper has Kuechly rated as his top linebacker and 10th-best prospect, praising him for his instincts and his ability to shed blocks. He has the Eagles picking Kuechly at No. 15 in the first round, although a lot can change in terms of team needs with free agency in March.
ESPN's Todd McShay also has Kuechly as his top-rated linebacker and 10th-best prospect overall.
And NFL.com's Mike Mayock has Kuechly as his second-best linebacker, behind only Alabama's Courtney Upshaw, who projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
Kuechly has seen and heard some of the scouting reports? But does he agree with them?
"A lot of them say I play instinctively," Kuechly said. "That’s true the more I think about it. I just let myself go out there and play."
And the weaknesses?
"I've got to do a better job in general of playing in coverage," he said. "I have a lot to work on. It's a faster game. You've got to adapt with what comes your way."
The success of tight ends like Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham and Vernon Davis is not lost on Kuechly, who realizes the importance of playing in coverage, along with stopping the run.
When asked which linebacker he most admires, Kuechly didn't hesitate.
"My favorite player for awhile has been Ray Lewis," Kuechly said, explaining that he watched Lewis and the Ravens face his hometown Bengals growing up. "His passion for the game is the number one thing. He loves playing football, and that's helped him be great."
Lewis was the 26th pick in 1996. Kuechly figures to go higher, but with the draft still 12 weeks away, there are several steps to take before finding out where he'll begin his NFL career.
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We'll never draft Kuechly because Andy never drafts the obvious. Drafting is all ego. Andy is going to pick somebody nobody ever heard of and claim he's the best ever. He'll draft him in the 6th round. He'll take some 6'2" DE in the first.— 4thand10- This is why no team should put much stock into the combine. These guys are training for it and the specific drills that they will run. So it is false advertising. Just look at what they did in colloge and do some interviews. I know the trainers are making a killing around this time.— urbnasty
- Tullock was a free agent last year when the Eagles were signing anyone they could get their hands on. Ask yourself why the Eagles would have let a veteran LB in the wide-9 get to Detroit on a 1-year deal. My guess would be either that Washburn doesn't like him or the Eagles don't value LBs enough to meet his price. Either way, since NOTHING has changed from last year, I can't see Tullock an Eagle.— del_sj
- Andy Reid will not waste a number one round draft choice on a white LB. Thats how smart he is!— Romus
- Sorry - They have not had a white LB work out and last beyond one season in the past - not racist, just real - better to sign a free agent with size and speed to play the middle - that is the only way to improve the LB position for next year - besides I agree Andy won't take a LB in the first round - he likes fat guys with "high motors"— Tom Man
- Chaney has a neck injury. We need 3 NFL LBs.— oldBird
- Kuechley just finds the ball carrier and hits(and better yet)gets people on the ground.He would be a very very good pick at 15 and all Birds fans know we need all of the run support we can get.No way the Giants are a better team than the Eagles yet they are playing SUPER SUNDAY and all we can do is look forward to the draft.— DAVID DOSTER
- We don't care if the guy is orange as long as he can play some football.— DAVID DOSTER
- Just curious, why are some idiots referring to the race of whoever ends up playing LB? Does this actually matter to you imbeciles?— p-diddy
- Can't base the pick on a wide 9 alignment, guys. Drafting defensive players based on scheme has been the Achilles Heel of this team for a very long time now. Build the scheme around the talent you have on the current roster. Kuechly's been compared favorably to Zac Thomas. Who wouldn't want Zac Thomas? 16 tackles a game is a number you cannot refute, regardless of combine metrics. He's the safest pick in the first round, and that is tact the Eagles need to make at this point. They cannot have another bad draft.— beegal99
All of the speculation with the draft is a little pre-mature because the Birds could get a playah in FA. DQJackson, LFletch, CLoft, STull etc...etc...Andy has one year...LB will be addressed...then we can talk draft...hopefully at that point we are in get the best Fing player available. GoBirds— tkeagle- Vontaze Burfict or Dont'a Hightower, bottom line!— low1016
- Here's how to make the defense a better unit: trade Samuel for whatever you can get for him. Move up in the first round and get Devon Still at DT. Sign Tulloch to play MLB. Chaney and Matthews to play OLB. If you can swing it, sign Tyvon Branch from Raiders to man SS position. That defense instantly becomes a top 5 unit.— beegal99
- Talking about the draft prior to FA is a waste of time anyway.— tpizza
- This guy is a mistake, Alabama has two linebackers, Courtney Upshaw 6'2" 273 lbs and Dont’a Hightower 6'4" 260 lbs who have both the size and speed to make a hit in the NFL.
Both should be on the board in the Second and Third Rounds, both were Butkus Award Finalist.
— Dexter
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