Jordon Dizon

Playing running back and linebacker for the school of 860, Dizon rushed for 1,157 yards and 13 touchdowns in only five games as a junior, registering 75 stops on defense.

On September 4, 2004, playing against Colorado State University, Dizon became the first true freshman in school history to start a season opener at inside linebacker.

During 2007, Dizon posted a single-game career-high in tackles against CSU (22) and set the single-season school record for third-down stops, with 19 in 12 games.

"[4] As a senior, Dizon recorded the best statistical season for a Buff linebacker since Matt Russell's 1996 Butkus-winning campaign.

Dizon was recognized as a consensus first-team All American, after receiving first-team honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation,[6] the Associated Press,[7] Sporting News,[5] ESPN,[8] and Rivals.com[9] for the 2007 NCAA Division I-A football season, and was named the Big 12 Conference's Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

[10] A four-year starter for the Buffs, Dizon finished his collegiate career as the second-leading tackler among all active players.

His 34.5 inch vertical jump also impressed scouts, while Dizon's meager 12 repetitions lifting 225 pounds was considered poor for a linebacker.

When hired in January 2009, coach Jim Schwartz changed defensive schemes, moving Dizon back to the outside linebacker position.

[15] During the 2009 off-season, Dizon earned high praise from Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham and linebackers coach Matt Burke, the latter of whom noted, "Jordon’s probably been one of the hardest workers I have.