Jordon Dizon just got a new job. Pretty soon Dizon will be trading in his Buffaloes’ helmet for another animal. The Detroit Lions selected the Waimea High School and soon to be University of Colorado grad in the second round,
Jordon Dizon just got a new job. Pretty soon Dizon will be trading in his Buffaloes’ helmet for another animal.
The Detroit Lions selected the Waimea High School and soon to be University of Colorado grad in the second round, 45th overall, during yesterday’s NFL draft in New York.
But Dizon didn’t hear his name being called. The linebacker was in Colorado and originally had plans to play golf during the draft, opting out not to watch it. Then it snowed.
Still sticking to his plans to not watch the telecast, Dizon went to the movies. Afterall, he didn’t think he’d be drafted this high.
Hopefully, his phone was on silent in the theaters because surely his phone was ringing off the hook.
His mother, Darla Higa, was working in Waimea leading up to the announcement.
“I called him about three minutes before he got picked, so I must have just had this feeling,” she said. “Being drafted in the second round is huge for a guy from Waimea. As soon as I got the call, I started crying and shaking.”
Higa said she called Dizon’s girlfriend’s mother and joked about what Dizon would do for her now that he’s got a new job. In a previous interview, Dizon joked that if he was drafted and if his mother was nice enough, maybe he’d take her to dinner.
“I said I hope my dinner is big and in New York City,” she said.
Dizon had concerns that he might not get a shot in the NFL because of his size. He put up good numbers in his time at Colorado — leading the nation in solo stops (120), was second in the nation for total tackles (160) and was named the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named to the first-team All-Big 12, to the Walter Camp All-America First Team and finished second for the Dick Butkus Award given to the top college football linebacker.
Still, with his 6-foot, 229-pound frame, some critics thought he was too small to play in the NFL..
Now, he’s got a chance to prove himself. Dizon graduates with high honors on May 9 with a bachelor’s degree in economics.
Dizon joins Ikaika Alama-Francis as the second player from Hawai‘i on the squad. The defensive end was also a second round draft pick by the Lions.
Dizon was the only player from Hawai‘i selected in yesterday’s draft.
He is the third Kaua‘i player to be drafted by the NFL. Bernard Carvalho, a Kapa‘a High School and University of Hawai‘i graduate was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1984 and Kane Kauahi, also a Hawai‘i grad, went to Seattle.
Brennen Carvalho, Kaua‘i’s other football player in the draft, hopes to get picked in one of the rounds today.
Jordon Dizon
Age: 22
Height/Weight: 6 feet, 229 pounds
Hometown: Waimea
Prep: Waimea High School
College: University of Colorado
Position: Linebacker
Tackles: 160
Sacks: 8
Drafted: Second Round, 45th overall
