Jonathon Burt

Jonathon Burt
Position	DE/DT
Height - Weight	6'2", 243 lbs
Hometown	Indianapolis, IN
High School	Warren Central
247 Sports	*** - 86
Rivals	*** - 5.5
ESPN	*** - 77
Scout	***

Jonathon Burt was the third Warren Central high school player to commit to the Bearcats for the 2012 class and really opened some eyes as to the kind of pipeline Cincinnati is building with the Warriors football program. Getting one or two out of the same program is positive news but when you start pushing 3 or more and they start committing withing weeks of each other, that’s when a pipeline begins to form.

Overview

 

Warren Central runs a blitz-heavy defense. That’s why you see former Warrior and 2011 UC commit Nick Temple listed as a safety in high school but a linebacker at Cincinnati. The safeties for the Warriors play very close to the line of scrimmage in blitz situations and act as a 4th or even 5th linebacker. For Burt, this works right into his hands as he’s listed as a hybrid DE/OLB (like Walter Stewart in 2010) but plays much more along the line in high school. He has a quick burst off the snap and seems to work better hitting the gap inside with power and a quick move than by burning the offensive tackle by going around the edge. He’s a solid tackler and wraps up ball carriers well with his long arms.

Outlook

Without a doubt defensive tackle. Normally football players are actually a hair shorter than their listed height but for Burt it seems like he’s a bit taller than 6’2″. Specifics aside, he looks way too skinny for 6’2″ and in a college-level strength and conditioning program can easily bulk up at least 40 lbs putting him at 6’2″, 280 – 290 lbs. He’ll have plenty of time to do that his freshman year especially when he takes a redshirt. For defensive tackle in 2012, UC will be replacing Wolfe and Hughes but will have a solid rotation of Stepp, Lozano, Beard, and Mitchell. It will be a log jam at the position and for the good of the football program and Burt, he should take a redshirt to bulk up. I fully believe he’ll see playing time after that year, though.