Jordon Dizon Scouting Report

Coming out of high school in Hawaii, Dizon was looked at as a potential fullback, but started fall camp as a freshman at safety. However, he was moved to inside linebacker shortly after and that's where he would make his mark. He was the first true freshman in Colorado history to start the season opener at inside linebacker and wound up starting 11 of 12 games, making 84 tackles (six of which were for loss) and had four pass breakups. He was named the Big 12's Defensive Newcomer of the Year/Freshman of the Year, honorable mention All-Big 12, and a second-team Freshman All-American, along with being on the freshman All-Big 12 team. He built off that solid freshman season and had a productive sophomore campaign, recording 63 total tackles, 7 TFL, three sacks, and four QB hurries in 2005 -- which garnered him honorable mention All-Big 12 honors. He very nearly equaled his tackle total from his first two seasons in his junior season, racking up an impressive 137 tackles in 12 games, 11 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and two QB hurries, getting rewarded for his efforts by being named first-team All-Big 12 (San Antonio Express-News), second-team All-Big 12 (AP), and honorable mention All-Big 12 (conference coaches). He saved his best for last, starring on defense for a resurgent Colorado team that posted six wins and played in the Independence Bowl; in the process, establishing himself as one of the top defensive playmakers in the country. In 13 games, Dizon recorded 173 total tackles (127 solo, 46 assists), 11 TFL, four sacks, 8 QB hurries, and two interceptions. As a result, he was named a consensus first-team All-American, first-team All-Big 12, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and was the runner-up for the Butkus Award. Dizon isn't going to impress anyone physically, which is why he'll likely be on the board until the latter rounds. However, as hung up as evaluators can be on the physical, Dizon's numbers and his accolades speak for themselves. Also, he makes plays when it matters - he had 17 third-down stops as a junior and posted a single-season school record of 19 as a senior. Just how well he'll do on the next level (against bigger, stronger, and faster players) remains to be seen, but don't be surprised if you see him doing the same thing on the next level that he's been doing in Boulder for the last four seasons. Update (4/23/08): At the combine, Dizon ran a 4.71 40, had a 20-yard shuttle time of 4.35 seconds, and had a 3-cone drill time of 7.01 seconds. At Colorado's Pro Day, he bettered his 40 time with a 4.63 and his 3-cone drill time with a 6.78. His production and playmaking ability could see him drafted as high as the third or fourth round, but concerns about his size and strength (only 12 reps in the bench press at CU's Pro Day) could see him fall to the last couple of rounds.