Signing Day: Nation's Top Linebacker Vontaze Burfict to Arizona State

In the first real shocker of signing day 2009, Corona (CA) linebacker and No. 9 rated player by Rivals.com Vontaze Burfict has decommitted from USC to play for Arizona State. The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports that a representative of the all-everything linebacker phoned USC on Tuesday to inform them of his change of plans.

Burfict is a monster get for coach Dennis Erickson and the Arizona State Sun Devils -- assuming they can get him in school, a major concern for all parties. Burfict (seen above mauling some poor high school running back) has long been rumored to have a difficult grade and test score situation that may not pass muster with the NCAA Clearinghouse or the colleges themselves.

Symbolically, however, landing Burfict is huge. Arizona State gets a ferocious defender with offers from the biggest schools. It helps that several of Burfict's high school teammates are committed to or play for the Sun Devils.

This also counts as modest revenge after USC plucked Arizona natives center Kris O'Dowd and defensive end Everson Griffen from Arizona State's clutches two years ago, and defensive end Devon Kennard this year.

Grades are the real story here, and Arizona seemed more willing to accommodate and assist Burfict lest he go the junior college route.

In an interview last week, Burfict said he preferred Arizona State because the school has provided an academic map of what he needs to complete in order to become eligible.

USC dearly wanted Burfict, but at the same time, it makes sense that Arizona State would step in here and go that extra mile to convince him they can not only most assist him, but feature him on the field earlier.

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