Returning to work after a vacation is tough enough. So imagine if your first day back from vacation was also your birthday. That wouldn’t sit well with most people. Luke Kuechly isn’t like most people.“I was excited to wake up and come in because I was excited to see everyone again,” the beaming linebacker said as the Panthers started offseason workouts. “It’s like going back to school again.”Kuechly, who turned 24 on Monday, actually hasn’t had much of a vacation. He’s been in Charlotte most of the offseason, or more specifically, at Bank of America Stadium. Plus, he did go back to school again. He’s two weeks and two finished papers away from finishing an online course, the final credits he needs to earn his degree from Boston College.”That was one of the deals with my parents coming out. They said, ‘If you leave early, you’ve got to finish school,” Kuechly said. “So that’s been a top priority for me since I got out. It’s taken me about three years to get it done. I’m almost there, so I’ll be able to check that off. My parents will be happy, I’ll be happy.”As he wraps up his studies in marketing, Kuechly continues to study himself. Last offseason, he vowed to improve as a pass rusher and in coverage. He then set career highs in sacks (3) and pass breakups (12). Now he’s working on how he uses his hands to get on defenders and to get off blockers.“We were just watching some tape, and there were a couple times where my hands were either outside or maybe not where they needed to be,” Kuechly said. “That’s one thing that I’ve figured out going from college to the NFL: If you can’t play with your hands, you can’t play. Once guys grab you; you’re done.”One thing Kuechly isn’t worried about is his contract situation. The Panthers are planning to pick up his fifth-year option by the May 3 deadline, which locks him in through the 2016 season. As far as if he’d like to get a long-term deal done sooner rather than later, is there any surprise he’d answer that question exactly like this?”I’m honestly not worried about it. I’m excited to be here. I think you guys know that by now. That stuff will take care of itself,” Kuechly said. “I’m just here to run around and play football.”