Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict appeared to be trending toward a future top-ten draft prospect when he was voted first-team All-American as a true sophomore. Burfict wasn’t even honored as an All-Pac 12 pick as a junior, however, and his production slipped mightily across the board.
NFL Network’s Mike Mayock has watched Burfict’s games. And he isn’t impressed.
“I’m not a fan at all,” Mayock said of Burfict on Wednesday’s conference call with the media. “I just watched a bunch of his tape the other day. I came away unimpressed.”
Burfict has been criticized for off-field issues as well as his on-field self control, committing a high number of personal foul penalties. Mayock said he tried to filter out Burfict’s off- and on-field character when breaking down the player.
“His instincts aren’t good,” Mayock added. “He gets enveloped by bigger bodies and he runs around blocks. … For a big, strong guy, he’s nowhere near as strong at the point of attack as I thought he’d be.
“I don’t see first round at all.”