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BC's Luke Kuechly wins Butkus Award

Print | Comments () Posted by Matt Pepin, Boston.com Staff December 4, 2011 03:50 PM

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Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus (left) presented the Butkus Award to Boston College's Luke Kuechly at the team's awards dinner. (Photo by John Quackenbos/Boston College)

By Pete Goodwin and Mark Blaudschun, Globe Staff

Boston College junior Luke Kuechly has won the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation’s top linebacker. It is the first time a BC player has won the award.

Butkus himself, a Hall of Famer for the Chicago Bears, was on hand to present the award to Kuechly at the team's awards banquet today. The presentation took Kuechly completely by surprise.

"Growing up as a kid, I read all about [Butkus]. For me, he is the linebacker," Kuechly said.

Kuechly was named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year. He holds the BC record for career tackles, and led the nation in total tackles (191) and solo tackles (102) this season.

"What I saw in him was a guy who makes tackles, and that's what this game is all about," Butkus said.

Alabama's Dont'a Hightower finished second in the award voting.

The "surprise" moment at the BC football team's awards dinner. (Photo by John Quackenbos/Boston College)

tags Boston College, Butkus Award, football, Luke Kuechly

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