The Arizona St. Sun Devils could be decimated by senior losses for next season. Shelly Lyons and Colin Parker will both be moving on, as will primary backup Oliver Aaron. Brandon Magee will be back after suffering an injury early in fall camp, but he does plan to redshirt and return, so that is a potentially positive development for ASU football.
However, the strength of ASU's defense next season will hinge on whether star linebacker Vontaze Burfict decides to come back for his senior year with the Sun Devils. Burfict is one of the likeliest candidates to be a first round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, and it would make perfect financial sense for him to forego his senior year of eligibility and head off for the bright lights of New York City in April.
But according to Craig Morgan of ASU Rapid Reports for CBS Sports, Burfict is considering coming back. Arizona State might lose a step as a team, but with Burfict back, they'll still be a force to be reckoned with and a definite competitor for the Pac-12 South title in 2012.
To discuss the future of Burfict with the Sun Devils, go to House of Sparky.