Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict ran a 4.93 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine Monday afternoon. Despite Burfict being attached to the Steelers in several mock drafts, a suppar 40 time could really lower his draft stock.
Burfict had already had conditioning concerns as his status as a top linebacker really fell off from his sophomore to junior years. He also had discipline concerns, getting flagged for rough play on the field quite a bit. A lack of speed thanks largely in part to some ballooning weight issues does not help. By comparison, another linebacker in whom the Steelers might have interest, Don'ta Hightower from Alabama, ran a 4.62 in the 40.
Hightower's big concern entering his process is a tendency to overshoot some plays. But given the fact that he was a player who got progressively better each of his years at Alabama, he looks as if he could be a great player for the Steelers to consider picking up.
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