2012 NFL Draft: Boston College LB Luke Kuechly Decides to Go Pro

The 2012 NFL Draft just got another big puzzle piece.

Via College Football Talk, here's the latest news concerning Boston College inside linebacker Luke Kuechly:

If you're unfamiliar with Kuechly, just know that he is coming off a season in which he racked up a grand total of 191 tackles for the Eagles. A typical game from his consisted of roughly 15 tackles, and he also picked off three passes.

He was named the winner of the Dick Butkus Award, given to the nation's top linebacker. Not bad for a guy who made his name as a safety in high school in Ohio.

Kuechly is ranked as the No. 13 overall prospect and the No. 1 inside linebacker by ESPN. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller has him down as the No. 2 inside linebacker behind Arizona State's Vontaze Burfict, who recently announced that he will also be entering the NFL Draft.

Burfict may have Kuechly beat in terms of raw talent, but Burfict's wildness makes Kuechly a much safer pick.

The inside linebacker class looked to be much deeper a month ago, but Notre Dame's Manti Te'o removed his name from consideration so he could return to South Bend for his senior season. If nothing else, his withdrawal helps Kuechly's stock.

Though it is unlikely that Kuechly will be a top-10 or even top-15 pick on draft day, it's a good bet that he will be selected somewhere in the first round. If a team is looking for a tackling machine, it won't find a better option than Kuechly.