| Vontaze Burfict Scouting Report |
| Vontaze Burfict - Arizona State (HT: 6-1⅜ - WT: 248) |
Positives -- Pretty good production in three years at Arizona State (228 tackles, seven sacks, four forced fumbles, one interception)... Has very good size for the position, can hold up against bigger blockers and is strong enough to take down larger backs... Has good pre-snap instincts, likes to jump snap
counts and explode into the backfield... Likes to hit, plays with good lower-body explosion, drives through tackles to finish off ball carriers... Very intense player, does not shy away from contact, plays with a very high motor... Scrapes pretty well through traffic, uses athleticism and quickness to get around blockers while keeping eyes on ball carrier... Is instinctive in most aspects of the position, maintains gap responsibilities and doesn't often bite on play action... Plays well in short zone coverage, but does not look as comfortable playing man-to-man, appears best fit to play the middle of the field in a Tampa-2 scheme... Is one of the more intimidating inside linebacker prospects in recent memory, plays with a mean streak and his intense playing style has drawn comparisons to Ray Lewis... Is versatile enough to play in multiple schemes in the NFL, has a reasonably high ceiling if he can keep his head on straight.
Negatives -- Does not always wrap up well when tackling, sometimes relies on lowering shoulder to deliver crushing blow, but will miss tackles by not breaking down and playing with more control... Lack of mental discipline can be apparent at times, maturity level has been questioned in the past, was in head coach Dennis Erickson's doghouse all season and didn't see the field for long periods of time due to lack of discipline and mental toughness... Plays a bit high, has a high center of gravity, which leaves him susceptible to cut blocks... Still a little raw in several areas, overall technique can be sloppy at times, needs to play with more control; his play coincides with his emotions and it gets him in trouble, committed 17 personal fouls in 35 games according to ESPN's Todd McShay... Tackles with his head down a little too often, will miss tackles in the open field when he doesn't keep his head up... Awareness in coverage can improve, pays a lot of attention the action in front of him but can miss receivers working the zone behind him... His combine workouts were terrible (5.09-40, 8'8" broad and 30" vertical) and he blamed college coaches for his poor junior season in interviews, a draft day slide to day three seems inevitable... Reportedly, teammate Brandon Magee had always made sure Burfict was properly positioned on the field and made him aware of assignments and Magee underwent surgery for a ruptured achilles in August and missed the entire season... Failed a drug test at the combine.
| |
| Combine Results |
| Height |
› |
6013 |
| Weight |
› |
248 |
| Arm |
› |
31¼ |
| Hand |
› |
9¾ |
| 40-Time |
› |
5.09 |
| Vertical |
› |
30 |
| Broad |
› |
8'8" |
| Bench Press |
› |
|
| Shuttle |
› |
|
| Cone |
› |
|
|
At Arizona State -- (Official School Bio) Three-year member of the Sun Devil football team... three-year letterman... made 228 career tackles, including 22.5 for loss (77 yards)... had seven career sacks (50 yards)... broke up 12 passes in his career, forced four fumbles and recovered three... earned the starting middle linebacker spot in the fourth game of his freshman season. 2011: Played in all 13 games, making 12 starts... tied for second on the team in tackles with 69, including 40 solo... added seven tackles-for-loss, including five sacks... collected his first career interception in a win over then-No. 23 USC on Sept. 24... also had a fumble recovery and three pass breakups on the season... recorded three sacks for a loss of 20 yards in the season opener vs. UC Davis on Sept. 1... had five solo tackles, including a 14-yard sack, and a pass breakup in a win over then-No. 19 Missouri on Sept. 9... tied his season-high with nine tackles, including four solo, at Illinois Sept. 17... made a team-leading nine tackles vs. Colorado Oct. 29... recorded six tackles, including five solo and a six-yard sack, at UCLA Nov. 5... collected seven tackles, including five solo, vs. Arizona Nov. 19... had five solo tackles and a fumble recovery at Washington State Nov. 12... had a pair of pass breakups vs. Oregon State on Oct. 1... had seven tackles at then-No. 9 Oregon on Oct. 15... made five tackles at Utah Oct. 8... totaled five tackles, including four solo, vs. Cal on Nov. 25... Butkus Award Semi-Finalist... named to a number of award watch lists, including Chuck Bednarik, Bronko Nagurski, Rotary Lombardi and Walter Camp... member of numerous preseason first-team All-American teams, including Phil Steele, Lindy's, Athlon and the Sporting News. 2010: Followed up freshman year with an equally impressive sophomore season... appeared in every game, starting all but one... led strong ASU defense with 90 tackles, including 54 solos... added 8.5 tackles for loss for minus 18 yards.
|
|
