Panthers LB Luke Kuechly a much-deserved Butkus Award nominee

The Panthers linebacker may have a chance to collect some hardware

Another year is in the books for the Carolina Panthers and as a result, Luke Kuechly has been nominated for an off-season accolade. The middle linebacker is up for the honor of the Butkus Award once again. On Wednesday, the Butkus Award Foundation announced Kuechly as one of the nominees. To be considered for the award means being one of the best linebackers in the country. The Boston College product had a tremendous season.

I remember writing in February that I was concerned about his health and whether he could put up big numbers. He proved that he could, as he had one of his best seasons ever. He finished the year with 130 tackles which was his most since the 2014 campaign when he had 153. He had 20 tackles for a loss, which undoubtedly bested his career high of 12, recorded in his rookie year.

More from Cat Crave

• 4 potential Panthers draft targets who’ll blow up the 2023 NFL Combine
• Carolina Panthers meeting with Derek Carr has additional benefits
• When will Carolina Panthers brass speak at 2023 NFL Combine?
• 4 free-agent defensive ends the Carolina Panthers should target in 2023
• Carolina Panthers linked to veteran LB in free agency mock draft

He is no stranger to this award, having won it four times. He won it last season, following a tremendous 2017 campaign. By winning this award, Kuechly would have won the honor four times in the past five seasons.

He has had a another tremendous year, and any signs of slowing down were not there this year. Signs of a good season were evident when he recorded 13 tackles in the season-opener against the Dallas Cowboys. He would go on to post three games of at least 10 tackles this season. In a season where the Panthers defense experienced some bumps in the road, he remained a constant. His instincts for the football and his ability to wrap up and make clean tackles were key this year, especially with all the  rule changes designed to protect the quarterback. He made the most out of what was a difficult situation for many defenders.

It will be hard to top 130 tackles next year. Let’s just face it, that is a big number. However, I do expect another big year from him even if the defensive style may change for the team. No matter what position he is put in, he always seems to excel. It is no secret that the Panthers have struggled drafting players in recent years. However, I think they got this pick right. Kuechly has been a staple of the defense ever since he came into the league, and year after year he has the numbers to prove it.

It will be interesting to see what he can do in 2019, and if last season is any indication, I would expect a big year. Kuechly does not know how to slow down. That is a very good thing in the fast-paced world of the National Football League. Slowing down is never an option. Kuechly seems to live by that motto every day.