Burton decides to Bear Down for Bruins instead of Wildcats
- Updated: January 19, 2016
Jacob Burton (9), of Granite Hills, will attend UCLA instead of Arizona, the senior announced on Monday night.
2015 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
By Bill Dickens
© EastCountySports.com
EL CAJON (1-19-16) — After choosing Arizona over UCLA last summer, Granite Hills’ JAKE BURTON came full circle Monday night (Jan. 18), flipping his commitment to the Bruins.
The three-star defensive lineman committed to UCLA on Monday night after spending the last six months as a commitment to Arizona. Both are currently top-tier Pac-12 schools.
“My family and I decided that UCLA was the place for me,” said the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Burton. “We debated other options and decided this was the best.”
“I want to thank the Arizona coaches for their support in this process,” he added.
Burton is a double threat as he carries a 3.85 GPA in the classroom and scored 1540 on his SAT.
On the field Burton boasts 4.85 speed in the 40. He’s a blue chipper on both sides of the ball, although the Bruins expect to link him in to the defensive line. He’s a rush end and very physical on the defensive side, but can carry his own as a tight end with tremendous run blocking skills as well.
Burton’s bloodlines run deep. His father Brad and twin uncle Mitch were both standouts at San Diego State and continue to coach. Brad coaches at defense at Grossmont College and Mitch tutors the offensive players at Granite Hills High School.
Jake Burton was recruited by more than a dozen colleges including Cal, Stanford, Purdue, San Diego State, Vanderbilt, Washington State and Boise State.
His last-minute switch from Arizona to UCLA could conceivably involve a shuffling of Arizona defensive coaching personnel, although Burton wouldn’t say so. The Wildcats named a new defensive coordinator on Monday morning.
By moving on to UCLA, Burton will work under second year defensive coordinator Tom Bradley and head coach Jim Mora.
Other football notes:
— Former Grossmont College linebacker coach CYRUS SAFATAGALOA has accepted a linebacker coaching post at the University of Utah. He spent the last three years with the Griffins.
— Helix wide receiver MEKHI STEVENSON is on the verge of claiming a scholarship. He presently has three offers on the table – Utah State, UNLV and Colorado State.
Signing day is in 15 days😝 Where's it gonna be??? Commitment video coming soon✌🏾️ pic.twitter.com/JGJIJtgcE2
— M2B to ???? (@EmChuuBee) January 19, 2016
