Freshman linebacker Burfict named to top squad

January 07, 2010

The Football Writers Association of America and Aon Insurance announced its ninth annual Freshman All-America Team on Thursday during the association's annual awards breakfast. Arizona State University freshman linebacker <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/burfict_vontaze00.html… Burfict</a> was named to the squad.<separator></separator>Burfict, a true freshman from Corona, Calif., started the last nine games of the season for the Sun Devils and had an immediate impact. He ranked second on the team in tackles with 69 stops (40 solos), including seven tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks, to go along with five passes broken up and two fumbles forced and recovered. Burfict was named the Pac-10 Defensive Freshman of the Year following the 2009 season. Last month Burfict was named a Freshman All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com.<separator></separator>The team and coach are selected by a 11-person panel of nationally-prominent writers led by Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News Sentinel. Both true freshmen and redshirt freshmen were considered for the team.<separator></separator>The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,100 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include gameday operations, major awards, a national poll and its annual All-America team.