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David Hawthorne leaves Seattle for New Orleans via free agency
Well the spotlight will now shine brighter on Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly as today the Seattle Seahawks are now down a starting middle linebacker.
It was announced today by Michael C. Wright of ESPN Chicago that Hawthorne has signed a 5-year deal with the Saints. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Saints have upgraded their front 7 tremendously. Bunkley, Lofton, and now "The Heater". Rumor has it they are bracing for multiple suspensions of their current linebacker corps for offenses under the team's illegal bounty program.
All solid players who should really help run defense.
Hawthorne spent the first four seasons of his career with the Seahawks after signing as an undrafted free agent out of TCU in 2008.
The Heater as he is affectionately known in Seattle earned a roster spot with his HUGE hits and a general knack for always being around the ball.
He replaced Lofa Tatupu at MLB during the 2009 season, leading the team with 116 tackles and recording four sacks.
He then played outside linebacker in 2010, again leading the club with 104 tackles, before moving back to middle linebacker after Tatupu was released last August.
Need to know a little more about a possible linebacker the Seahawks could draft at #12 overall? Here's Mel Kipers take on Luke Kuechly.
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The 6-foot-2½, 237-pound junior is the definition of a tackling machine. As a freshman, he started all but one game for the Eagles and went on to finish second in the country with 158 tackles. That effort earned him ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Switched from outside to middle linebacker as a sophomore, Kuechly led the country in tackles while setting a single-season school record with 183.
Through 10 games this season, he is tops on the team in tackles (168), tackles for loss (10) and interceptions (two); Kuechly has a mere 103 more tackles than any other BC player. In Boston College's 14-10 win against the North Carolina State Wolfpack, he led the way with 18 tackles (1.5 of those for loss). The thing I liked most was how well he broke down in space in the short-intermediate passing game and made stops. In terms of his pro potential, Kuechly isn't the physical specimen that some of the other highly rated juniors are at the position, but his read/react ability is as good as it gets. His production is off the charts. He's a very well-rounded player and has a great passion for the game.
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