Vontaze Burfict
| Arizona State Sun Devils – No. 7 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker |
| Class | Freshman |
| Major | Unknown |
| Personal information | |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College |
|
| High school | Centennial High School, Corona, California |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Vontaze Burfict is an American football linebacker. He is currently attending Arizona State University in his freshman year. Burfict is considered the most highly ranked football prospect ever to sign a letter of intent to attend ASU.[1][2]
High school career
Burfict attended Centennial High School in Corona, California, where he was part of an undefeated Huskies team that won a CIF title, a state championship, and was ranked No. 2 in the nation by USA Today in 2008.[3] That year, Burfict led the Huskies with 159 tackles, two quarterback sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Burfict participated in the US Army All-American Bowl and was the third-leading tackler for the West team. He also earned numerous All-American honors, including Parade.[4]
As a junior, Burfict collected a team-high 130 tackles and added four sacks, two interceptions and one fumble recovery. He helped anchor a linebackers unit that included fellow Sun Devils Shelly Lyons and Brandon Magee. Corona Centennial finished the 2007 season as No. 24 on USA Today‘s Top 25.[5]
Burfict missed almost all of his sophomore season due to academic problems.[6]
Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Burfict was listed as the No. 1 inside linebacker prospect in the nation.[7]
College career
Burfict originally committed to play for the USC Trojans, but eventually switched to Arizona State on National Signing Day.[8] As of July 2009[update], he struggles to meet admission standard based on the NCAA eligibility sliding scale and has one summer school class to complete.[9] Sun Devils coach Dennis Erickson, who compared Burfict to Ray Lewis,[2] expected him to be academically eligible for enrollment.[10]
By midseason, Burfict ranked second in the team with 30 tackles despite starting only three of six games, and has five tackles for a loss, two sacks and three pass break-ups. ESPN named him Arizona State's midseason defensive MVP.[11]
References
- ^ Arizona State University Football Signs 21 Players to Letters of Intent, February 4, 2009
- ^ a b Bordow, Scott (August 15, 2009), "Burfict has perfect linebacker philosophy", East Valley Tribune
- ^ "Fort Lauderdale's Aquinas finishes season atop Super 25", USA Today, December 22, 2008
- ^ O'Shea, Michael (January 25, 2009), "Meet PARADE's All-America High School Football Team", Parade
- ^ "Miami Northwestern crowned Super 25 champion", USA Today, December 26, 2007
- ^ Crabtree, Jeremy (November 4, 2007), "Junior LB makes the grades, delivers impact", USA Today
- ^ Rivals.com inside linebackers 2009, January 16, 2009
- ^ Sondheimer, Eric (February 4, 2009), "ASU gets big-time recruit in linebacker Burfict", Los Angeles Times
- ^ Metcalfe, Jeff (July 18, 2009), "HS coach 'relatively optimistic' about Burfict qualifying", The Arizona Republic
- ^ Metcalfe, Jeff (August 13, 2009), "ASU expects Burfict to be eligible", The Arizona Republic
- ^ Miller, Ted (October 20, 2009), "Midseason review: Arizona State", ESPN.com