Back in the 2012 draft, the Carolina Panthers selected Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly with the 9th overall pick. Since that time, he's been the league's most prolific tackler. It's tough to make a case against him being the top linebacker selection in leagues that use individual defensive players.
Kuechly burst out of the gate with 164 total tackles for Carolina as a rookie, and followed it up with 156 last season. That two-year total of 320 is 19 more than the 2nd-best player in that area. Only five other players have a two-year total within 60 of him.
The list below shows the 25 players who have posted at least 100 total tackles in each of the last two season, with yearly and combined totals.
100-TACKLE DEFENDERS, 2012-2013 (BOTH SEASONS) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | 2012 | 2013 | Total |
Luke Kuechly, Car. | MLB | 164 | 156 | 320 |
Paul Posluszny, Jac. | MLB | 139 | 162 | 301 |
Vontaze Burfict , Cin. | OLB | 127 | 171 | 298 |
NaVorro Bowman, S.F. | ILB | 148 | 145 | 293 |
Lavonte David, T.B. | OLB | 139 | 145 | 284 |
Chad Greenway, Minn. | OLB | 148 | 134 | 282 |
Jerrell Freeman, Ind. | ILB | 145 | 126 | 271 |
Bobby Wagner, Sea. | MLB | 140 | 120 | 260 |
James Laurinaitis, St.L. | MLB | 142 | 116 | 258 |
Karlos Dansby, Mia.-Ariz. | MLB | 134 | 122 | 256 |
London Fletcher, Wash. | ILB | 139 | 111 | 250 |
Curtis Lofton, N.O. | MLB | 123 | 125 | 248 |
Stephen Tulloch, Det. | MLB | 112 | 135 | 247 |
Perry Riley, Wash. | ILB | 129 | 115 | 244 |
DeMeco Ryans, Phil. | ILB | 113 | 127 | 240 |
A.J. Hawk, G.B. | ILB | 120 | 118 | 238 |
Lawrence Timmons, Pitt. | ILB | 106 | 126 | 232 |
Derrick Johnson, K.C. | ILB | 125 | 107 | 232 |
Thomas Davis, Car. | OLB | 105 | 123 | 228 |
Philip Wheeler, Mia. | OLB | 109 | 118 | 227 |
Patrick Willis, S.F. | ILB | 120 | 104 | 224 |
Kevin Burnett, Mia. | OLB | 110 | 105 | 215 |
Antoine Bethea, Ind. | SS | 100 | 110 | 210 |
Ryan Clark, Pitt. | FS | 102 | 104 | 206 |
Dawan Landry, NYJ | SS | 100 | 100 | 200 |
--Andy Richardson @endtable