Colorado senior linebacker Jordon Dizon earned himself a truck two weeks ago when he caught an interception and ran it for a 42-yard touchdown against Texas Tech. Four years ago, his mother Darla Abbatiello, made him a promise that once
Colorado senior linebacker Jordon Dizon earned himself a truck two weeks ago when he caught an interception and ran it for a 42-yard touchdown against Texas Tech.
Four years ago, his mother Darla Abbatiello, made him a promise that once he scores a touchdown, she would buy him a new truck.
“After the game, I called her and said, ‘You know I remember the promise you made,’” he said. “It took me four years to do it. I should have done it sooner.”
But yesterday, Dizon got more good news as he was named as one of three finalists for the Dick Butkus award
“My truck just got bigger,” he told his mother.
But not really. Abbatiello said he’ll get a regular truck with big wheels and if he wins, he gets a big hug.
“That works just fine,” she said.
The 21-year-old Waimea High School graduate Dizon is the fourth Buffalo to be a finalist for the award which honors the top college football linebacker in the country.
Joining Dizon on the lists of finalists are Dan Connor (Penn State) and James Laurinaitis (Ohio State).
“Those guys are good,” he said. “I’ve seen them play; they’re awesome. They’re so good that the only way to pick a winner out of them is to pull a name out of a hat. That’s how good they are.”
However, Dizon leads the pack. Dizon, who is ranked fifth in the nation in terms of tackles per game at 11.90, still leads the nation in solo tackles with 89. Connor is ranked 16th in tackles per game with 10.5, while Laurinaitis is 77th with 8.5.
This is Laurinaitis’ second consecutive time as a finalist.
“It’s definitely an honor, but it the road stops here, I’m happy to be nominated,” he said.
Upon hearing the news, Dizon’s former football coach Jon Kobayashi gave him a call to congratulate him.
“I hope (Jordon) wins it and I think his chances are good” said Kobayashi, who is currently Waimea’s athletic director.
Kobayashi coached Dizon on the Menehune football team for Dizon’s freshman to junior year.
“To be in the top three is outstanding,” Kobayashi said. “It’s going to be a bonus if he wins. It’s a big honor for Jordon. We are very, very proud of him. It’s one in a million that an athlete from the small town of Waimea gets to be the top three in the country.”
At the end of the season, Dizon, Connor and Laurinaitis will head to Florida to attend the final awards ceremony.
“If I finish my last two games strong, maybe come up with another pick or make a bunch of tackles, maybe that will give me an edge over those guys.” he said.
“But you can’t really do anything more. If you do your job, things will come to you and hopefully something will get thrown my way.”
The Butkus award, established in 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, is presented to the nation’s best collegiate linebacker.
The recipient of the award is chosen by a selection committee whose members are familiar with the collegiate football scene.
“My fate is in the hands of some 100 voters and journalists,” he said.
There’s no word yet on what kind of truck he will get.
