San Francisco 49ers LB Chris Borland Will Soon Be the Front-Runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year

Winning an award like Defensive Rookie of the Year is a pretty big deal. It's important enough that a player's performance in each and every game is important in  the decision making process. So then why will a guy that has only played in four and a half game this season--49ers linebacker Chris Borland-- by the eventual front-runner?

Have you seen this guy play?

via Bleacher Report

Borland was a third round pick out of Wisconsin who did not get a chance to show what he has to offer until the St. Louis game (10/13) when Patrick Willis went down. A bit small for a linebacker at 5/11" and just 248 pounds he made his presence known with a pair of tackles along with a couple passes defensed./

A good day, but nothing too extraordinary. Once he was named the starter though it was on! Against Denver he had a respectable eight tackle night, but since than he has played like a man possessed with 18 tackles in a rematch against St. Louis, 17 against the Saints, and another 13 against the Giants last week.

It brings his total up to 63 for the season, the most on the team even though he barely played in the first five games.

. @mirrorballdc Yep, Borland now leads the team in tackles with 4 starts and a second half against St. Louis
— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) November 16, 2014

Okay, so that lines him for rookie of the year for the 49ers, but should he win it for the NFL? Even though he has started so few games his stats are already in line with those of the other expected candidates:

• Baltimore Ravens LB C.J. Mosley: 90 tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble (tough to beat)
• Minnesota Vikings LB Anthony Barr: 62 tackles, four sacks, fumble return for a touchdown.
• Oakland Raiders LB Khalil Mack: 56 tackles, a sack, and an interception
• St. Louis Rams DL Aaron Donald: 27 tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble.

If you didn't know he had only played in a handful of games you would probably put him second for the award behind Mosley. Since he has not played as much he will have to really keep up the level of production in order for that to be overlooked.

Should he do that there is no way he can be denied the award.

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