Vontaze Burfict Scouting Report, LB, ASU

Vontaze Burfict is the Best Linebacker in the country, and one of the best prospects

This is our Vontaze Burfict scouting report for the 2012 NFL draft. It will be updated frequently between now and the 2012 N.F.L. draft as information comes in.

For all of our other scouting reports go to our scouting report page

Measurables

6’1 248 pounds

5.09 forty yard dash, 30″ vertical jump, 104″ Broad jump

Stats

2010:

90 tackles, 8.5 sacks for loss, 3 passes broken up

2011:

 
Pros–Terrific blitzer….good pass rusher out of the inside linebacker spot…nasty player…plays sideline to sideline…aggressive…hard worker…tackling machine…play maker…instinctual…bone crushing hits….good depth in zone coverage…tackles well in space…versatile…disengages from blocks

Cons--Sometimes over-aggressive…some scouts not sure if he has instincts for a first round LB …will be fooled by play action at times…gets good depth in zone coverage, but doesn’t make a ton of plays on the ball only (first career interception is this year)…was shorter and slower at combine than anyone expects, can he keep up with N.F.L. tight ends…immature on the field and off

Player comparison–Patrick Willis, LB, San Francisco 49ers (at his absolute best, but that’s not what he has shown consistently)

Thoughts:

Vontaze Burfict is a terrific linebacker prospect that has an excellent blend of height, bulk, and athleticism. Burfict can be a good pass rusher from the middle and also is plus in coverage (though he doesn’t make a ton of balls). He’s a good tackler, but above all Burfict has unlimited passion for football and is just a nasty man on the football field. And that’s what you want from your MLB. Burfict is a little crazy, but so were all the best linebackers. Burfict is as good a prospect as Patrick Willis and has actually been more productive in college than (8 career sacks and a 160 career tackles-numbers Burfict has about now with the rest of this season to go).

That’s what I wrote early in the season

Here’s what I’d say about Burfict now. Perhaps no prospect as had such a tumultuous pre-draft process. He got benched at the end of the college football season (and then had some stupid penalties in his final game). He came off as immature in the interviewing process blaming other people for his issues. Then he looked much less athletic than people thought he was on film which brought up the question is he less athletic than we thought or is he very out of shape? Either is a red-flag. He was listed at 6’3 in college, but was only 6’1 at the combine. He now looks like a fourth round pick with upside, but a lot of risk too.

Projected round:

4th round

Video

Analysis

Vs USC

Vs Illinois