Luke August Kuechly (/ˈkikli/; born April 20, 1991) is an American football middle linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Boston College, and was a three-time All-American. He was selected by the Panthers with the 9th overall pick of the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Kuechly had an immediate impact his rookie season, as he led the NFL in tackles and won the Associated Press 2012 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. In his second season, he won the 2013 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award.