It’s been announced that Buffalo Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso was named Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America. Alonso has been nothing short of a beast after being selected in the second round and 49th overall after having a stellar career for the University of Oregon Ducks.
Alonso had been everywhere on defense for the the Bills this year as he amassed 159 total tackles with four interceptions and two sacks while never missing a single snap of the ball. Even in defeat, Alonso put up monster stats as when The Bills took on the Cincinnati Bengals, he gathered 22 total tackles. Even ESPN had made a short video about him entitled “The Legend of Kiko Alonso” which is truly an entertaining piece if you haven’t seen it yet.
After the first half of the season, it seemed that teams were game planning around the middle of the field for one reason or another to avoid Alonso. When he was picked back in April’s Draft a few people that knew him better than most said that “Alonso is exactly what Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine wants out of his inside linebacker” as he stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 240 pounds and has the non-stop motor that everyone drools about from fans of football to the player’s coaches.
What will happen with Alonso in year two of this defense is anyone’s guess; however an educated guess is that he will only get better as the Bills will continue to add more potent weapons around him and maybe have a full season out of fellow duck, safety Jairus Byrd. All and all, congratulations for Kristian “Kiko” Alonso as he is the first Buffalo Bill to win a rookie award since linebacker Shane Conlan did it in 1987.