2012 will be known as the season of the rookie quarterback, but don’t discount the linebackers in this year’s rookie class putting up big numbers.

Through 10 weeks, both battles for Rookie of the Year are close, but a group of linebackers is making a push to clog up the top of the defensive rookie totem pole. Pass rushers Chandler Jones and Bruce Irvin will be candidates with their sack totals, but there is precedent to honor rookie ‘backers who rack up tackles and big plays, but not necessarily sacks.

From 2006-09, four straight linebackers won the PFW/PFWA Rookie of the Year award: Demeco Ryans, Patrick Willis, Jerod Mayo and Brian Cushing. None of those four players is known for getting after the quarterback, like last year’s top two candidates, Aldon Smith and Von Miller.

This season, Luke Kuechly, Bobby Wagner and Lavonte David have been key cogs in their team’s respective defenses, and they are among the league leaders in tackles. Kuechly is third in the NFL, and David and Wagner are tied for fourth.

Granted, tackles can be a misleading stat at times, but it doesn’t take away from these rookie linebackers finding themselves around the ball. They are also well ahead of the pace we’ve seen the last two seasons. Only one rookie had more than 80 tackles last season — Buccaneers MLB Mason Foster, who had 84 — and Kuechly, Wagner and David will fly by that mark. All three are putting themselves in striking distance of what we saw from the 2009 rookie leaders, Brian Cushing (133 tackles) and James Laurinaitis (120 tackles).

Tackles are coming behind the line of scrimmage, as well. David leads all rookies with 12 tackles for loss, and Kuechly and Wagner are tied for second with eight TFLs apiece.