Free Preview: The X-Man Cometh

The Bruins have a confident and brash young man on his way to Westwood. It is this kind of confidence that could have been used last season when the wheels were falling off the wagon.

Let’s give him the nickname the X-Man who brings the X-Factor to the program.

Bruin fans you will enjoy the presence linebacker Xavier Burgess (6-2, 220, 4.6) from Sacramento (Calif.) Grant in the UCLA program. He is quite a character and will be a shot of energy for the UCLA program.

Burgess was a member of the Best of West team, all-city, and all-league. He was selected to participate in the California/Florida all-star game and the North/South Shrine all-star game for the Golden State.

Burgess possesses good instincts as a linebacker and the Bruins will try him at all three linebacker spots.

“The coaching staff has sent me two books to help me get in shape and ready for camp that starts August 12th,” Burgess said. “The staff told me there are spots open and if I learn the system, I could end up playing.”

“I saw (Oregon Duck RB) Onterrio Smith two weeks ago and told if I don’t redshirt that I’m going to hit him good,” Burgess said. “Onterrio will know I’m there.”

Burgess and Smith are from the same neighborhood and come from the same high school Sacramento Grant. Burgess was a freshman when Smith was ripping it up as a senior at Grant. Smith of course signed with Tennessee before he was kicked off the team and transferred to Oregon.

“Onterrio only remembers me when I was younger,” Burgess said. “He doesn’t know how hard I can hit. If I don’t redshirt he certainly will.”

“I’ve been talking so much on how well I’m going to do at UCLA that now I’m going to have to back it up,” Burgess said.

“That’s okay because I have confidence in my ability,” Burgess said. “I will come and meet you head on, I’m not afraid of anyone.”

“UCLA fans you may not know me yet, but you will.”

BruinBlitz thoroughly enjoyed interviewing this young man. What we have seen of him on tape this young man comes to play. He’s aggressive, quick and like he mentioned, he can hit.

This is what BruinBlitz had to say about the talented X-Man in our LOI wrap-up:

LB Xavier Burgess (6-2, 219, 4.6) from Sacramento (Calif.) Grant has tremendous upsides. Rivals ranked him with as a four-star backer.

The X-Man played out of position for most of his high school career, but played his more natural position of outside linebacker and he starred, accounting for 85 tackles, 20 QB hurries, 16 tackles for losses, 14 sacks, seven pass deflections, six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in ten games last season.

Selected All-State, All-City and All-League.

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