In SB Nation's latest 2012 NFL Mock Draft, Ryan Van Bibber projects that Luke Kuechly will be selected No. 24 in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Kuechly has often been projected as a higher-first round selection, but Van Bibber notes that it's difficult to place the former Boston College linebacker.
I have a hard time placing Kuechly, first-round linebacker bias. He could be picked in the first 15 spots; he could fall to the end of the round. Pittsburgh would be fortunate to find him here. Needing youth in their linebacker group, Kuechly would be a franchise cornerstone for years to come.
Kuechly set the Boston College and ACC career tackle record with 532 tackles in just three seasons, then erased any doubts that might have existed about his athleticism at the NFL Combine. He's considered as can't-miss as any defensive prospect in the draft.
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