The first time Luke Kuechly faced Drew Brees, the Panthers linebacker was so new to the Carolinas, he was in for fewer plays than Jon Beason and James Anderson.

In Week 2 of Kuechly’s 2012 rookie season, he made five tackles while playing just 29 snaps during the Panthers’ 35-27 win over Brees and the Saints.

“I was still trying to figure out how to get lined up,” Kuechly recalled Wednesday on the eve of the Saints’ Week 11 trip to Charlotte.

“As a rookie, you come in (after watching) all these guys growing up. You watch Drew Brees. I remember watching him when he was at Purdue and I remember (thinking), ‘This guy is a stud!'”

Kuechly has taken a liking to the word ‘stud’ this season. He uses it almost every week when asked about a Panthers’ opponent. Of course, it’s tough to say he’s even slightly exaggerating in this case.

The Panthers have actually fared better than most against Brees during Kuechly’s time in Carolina. While the future Hall of Famer has thrown 19 touchdowns and just nine interceptions in their eight meetings, Kuechly has a 5-3 record. And of all his Pro Bowl-worthy performances the past four and a half years, none may be as memorable as what he did against the Saints late in the 2013 season.

Kuechly not only intercepted Brees, but he also made a ridiculous 24 tackles in a 17-13 Panthers’ win that locked up the NFC South title. Not bad for a kid who was dreaming big things only a few years earlier.

“In Cincinnati, there’s a lot of Big Ten games on. So when you go out there before the game, and you see him warming up, it’s kind of a cool experience,” Kuechly said. “Then you get out there in the game, it just turns into a game.

“But remembering that first time, it was Drew Brees, and you see him warming up, it’s kind of a cool thing.”