Biography: Three-year starter awarded All-American and all-conference honors since his freshman season. Named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and won both the Lombardi Award and Bronko Nagurski Award for his efforts in 2011. Junior totals included 191 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and three interceptions. Sophomore totals included 183 tackles. Posted 158 tackles as a true freshman.

Positives: Smart, instinctive linebacker with a sixth sense on the field. Incredibly instinctive, diagnoses plays as they unfold and displays a terrific head for the ball. Takes good angles to the action and wraps up when tackling. Scrapes well laterally, stays with the play and is constantly around the action. Works his hands to protect himself and effectively works to get off blocks. Remains disciplined with coverage assignments and always puts himself in a position to make plays on the ball.

Negatives: Not smooth or quick pedaling in reverse. Lacks quick change-of-direction ability and struggles to immediately alter his angle of attack. Does not display great speed to the sidelines or the ability to chase the action down from behind.

Analysis: Kuechly was incredibly productive on the college level and one of the best run-defending linebackers in the nation the past three years. He offers immediate starting potential as a middle linebacker in a 43 alignment or on the inside of a 34 scheme.

Projection: 1st