Jordon Dizon of Colorado University is among the seimfinalists for the Dick Butkus award, the award given to the top linebacker in the country for college football. “I was just walking into the football complex when somebody told me congratulations
Jordon Dizon of Colorado University is among the seimfinalists for the Dick Butkus award, the award given to the top linebacker in the country for college football.
“I was just walking into the football complex when somebody told me congratulations and I said ‘for what?’ And he told me I was one of the semifinalists,” he said.
The 21-year-old Waimea High School graduate is looking to be the third Buffalo to win the award and although Dizon leads the nation in tackles, he is still humble about the whole thing.
“It’s OK,” he said. “Whatever happens, happens.”
Dizon currently averages 12.71 tackles per game and has 97 total (71 solo, 26 assisted).
The Buffs’ defensive captain played 447 snaps this season — all but 12 by the CU defense. He has seven tackles for losses, including three quarterback sacks, and another eight for zero gains by the opponent, all team bests, as are his 12 third down stops. The school record in the latter is 18, which he flirted with a season ago in coming up one short.
He also has an interception, two pass break-ups, four hurries, two near-sacks, a forced fumble and a caused interception. On special teams, he’s had another tackle and two knockdown blocks. Dizon has 12 or more tackles in six of Colorado’s seven games, including a career-high 22 in the opener against Colorado State. He had 17 in game two at Arizona State in 100-degree heat, along with four third down stops and three for losses, and racked up 15 at Baylor when he made his first career interception.
In Colorado’s 27-24 win over No. 3 Oklahoma, he had 13 tackles, including a key fourth quarter sack on third down against Sooners signal caller Sam Bradford.
“It’s all good, but I’d rather us win the Big 12 championship,” he said.
Colorado is 4-3, 2-1 Big 12.
“I’d rather we be 7-0,” he said.
Among his competition is Dan Connor (Penn State), Shawn Crable (Michigan), Erin Henderson (Maryland), Ali Highsmith (LSU), James Laurinaitis (Ohio State), Jeremy Leman (Illinois), Ben Moffitt (South Florida), Keith Rivers (USC) and Wesley Woodyard (Kentucky).
“My competition is pretty tough. They’re pretty good linebackers from pretty good teams,” he said.
Dizon is the first person from Kaua‘i to be named a semifinalist.
“He’s probably the most complete, every down player that I’ve ever coached,” coach Brian Cabral, who also has Hawai‘i ties, said in a release. “He’s the only player I’ve had start for me for four years, which is a tremendous accomplishment for him. He’s enjoying his best season as Buffalo.”
The final three honorees will be announced on Nov. 9 with the winner being named in December in Orlando.
• Lanaly Cabalo, sports editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.
