2012 NFL Draft: Vontaze Burfict Plummets Further Down Boards After Awful Pro Day

The tale of Vontaze Burfict just keeps getting worse. The Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker saw yet another setback at his pro day following what was a terrible showing at the NFL Scouting Combine.

According to SI.com's Tony Pauline, things were not looking good for the once-standout linebacker at his pro day, and the scouts were—to say the least—weary of this potential.

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Word on Vontaze Burfict; not good in position drills (i'm watering that down)...as one scout told me "i actually felt bad for him"

— TonyPauline (@TonyPauline) March 16, 2012"

That is not good news for Burfict, who entered the 2011 college football season as one of the top picks for this year's NFL draft.

Things didn't go so well for Burfict during the season, where he had a personal rift with head coach Dennis Erickson that eventually led to his benching late in the season.

Burfict was a standout player in the Pac-12 in 2010, but it was clear to anyone watching that perhaps his emotions finally got the best of him this past year.

Nobody can put their finger on what is going on with Burfict, as it isn't clear whether it is emotions or that he has perhaps lost the will to perform.

From the way he has handled himself in his interviews at the combine—pointing the finger at his coaches for messing him up—there clearly is something going on here.

Whatever it is, he is surely tumbling down the boards from a potential first rounder, to, heck, maybe going undrafted.

As NBC Sports' Evan Silva put it:

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With poor measurables and game tape, and suspect on- and off-the-field character, Burfict may struggle to be drafted at all in April.

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It will remain to be seen if that will be the fate of the Sun Devils linebacker, but given the chain of events, there are just no guarantee that Burfict will find himself on a NFL squad once April comes.

Jeff Chase is a Featured Columnist for the Chicago Cubs and Arizona State football.

Follow @Real_Jeff_Chase