Dizon looks to lead Buffs to a winning season
CU inside linebacker Jordon Dizon wasted no time distinguishing himself as a Buff.
After starting at linebacker his true freshman season, he garnered considerable attention because of his efforts on the football field.
Announced earlier in April, Dizon is among 42 of the top defensive players in the nation to be named to the 2007 Lott Trophy Watch List. Named after Hall-of-Famer Ronnie Lott, the award recognizes college football’s defensive impact player of the year.
Dizon finished the 2006 season with 137 total tackles, four sacks and 17 third-down stops, earning him second-team Big 12 honors.
Entering his senior season, the student-athlete is expected to have a crucial impact on CU’s defense.
The Campus Press recently spoke with Dizon, who won the team’s Tom McMahon Award last season for the player who demonstrates exemplary dedication and work ethic .
The Campus Press: What are your impressions of the team after the spring season?
Jordon Dizon: “We are tremendously better, and that includes all aspects: offense, defense and special teams. The spring has been a big uplift for all of us, and it has been fun to watch everyone grow since the end of last season. I think it shows that we can do whatever we have got to do.”
CP: What was your reaction when you were recently named to the Lott Trophy Watch List?
JD: “It really does not mean much. It’s just another thing on a piece of paper. I’d be happier to see our team have a good season. It’s not a distraction at all. You get your name on a piece of paper, and they watch you. It does not mean anything to the team, and if something does not mean anything to the team, then it really does not mean anything to me.”
CP: What kind of presence are you working to establish on the field?
JD: “I’m working on developing more of a vocal and leadership role. I have been here for the last few years, and it is time for me to be more vocal on the field by offering my thoughts on what is right or what is wrong. With my presence as a leader, I want to make sure everyone knows I expect that the right thing be done when I’m on the field.”
CP: The team named you a captain for the upcoming season. Describe the process of adjusting to that role?
JD: “There is not much difference between this year and last year. Last year, I was already becoming a leader on defense because I had been around for a while. The only difference is now I need to be a leader to the whole team rather than just the defense. When the whole team is down, I need to be more vocal to everyone in order for the team to pick it up.”
CP: What is your opinion on the defensive structure the team is assembling for next season?
JD: “It’s all coming together very nicely. Halfway through last season, we hit this learning curve, and guys were missing assignments constantly. Now the assignments are all second nature, even for the younger guys. Amazing stuff happens when we are all firing on the same cylinder.”
CP: You and Thaddeus Washington composed quite the duo while playing together. What has it been like playing without him beside you?
JD: “It is different. Thaddeus is someone you can count on all day, every play and every second of the game. You know that if you make a mistake, he is there to back you up. As a linebacker, you really need to build trust with the guy next to you. Mike (Sipili) and I have been building trust, and he has backed me up just as I have tried to back him up. Our trust has been growing over the spring, but it is hard to compare with the trust that Thaddeus and I had.”
CP: Are there any athletes that you feel you can feed off of in place of Washington?
JD: “Mike’s a real quiet guy, and I have to admit that I like that about him. But a couple of other defensive guys that I am able to feed off of are (cornerback) Terrence Wheatley and (safety) Ryan Walters. Those two guys are always in the back looking and yelling at everyone and do show some leadership. So it is nice to have those guys back there seeing what everyone on defense is doing so they can tell us what we are doing right or wrong.”
CP: What are your main goals for next season?
JD: “I want to win more than two games. Last year, we got away from playing Buffalo football at times. Some people were going this way; others were going that way. Finally, it looks like we have everything settled: academics, coaches and players. Everyone believes in everybody else, and getting that back means we can play Buffalo football again.”
Contact Campus Press staff writer Corey Jones at corey.jones@thecampuspress.com.
