Cincinnati native Luke Kuechly wins Associated Press 2012 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award
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Luke Kuechly ( Streeter Lecka/Getty Images Sport)
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Posted: 02/02/2013
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By: Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Cincinnati native Luke Kuechly, Carolina's tackling machine at linebacker, has won the Associated Press 2012 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Kuechly, a graduate of St. Xavier High School and a first-round pick from Boston College, led the league with 164 tackles. He began the season on the outside but moved to middle linebacker five games into the season and the Panthers went from 24th in the league in overall defense to 10th.
He earned 28 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league. That easily outdistanced Seattle LB Bobby Wagner with 11.
Green Bay cornerback Casey Hayward got six votes, while St. Louis CB Janoris Jenkins got three. Tampa Bay LB Lavonte David got the other two votes.
He is the second Panther to win the award; DE Julius Peppers got it in 2002.
Kuechly accepted his award Saturday night at the "2nd Annual NFL Honors" awards show on CBS saluting the NFL's best players, performances and plays from the 2012 season.
Watch the 9 On Your Side video of Luke Kuechly's reaction to being drafted in the media player on the left-hand side of the screen.
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Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL
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