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Dizon dismisses size factor

Ex-CU linebacker out to erase doubts he can play in NFL

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published March 19, 2008 at 10:53 p.m.

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Former Colorado linebacker Jordon Dizon performs for NFL scouts Wednesday as defensive end Alonzo Barrett looks on.

Photo by Cliff Grassmick / Daily Camera

Former Colorado linebacker Jordon Dizon performs for NFL scouts Wednesday as defensive end Alonzo Barrett looks on.

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BOULDER - Right now, as he tries to embark on a pro football career, it's all about winning the hearts and minds for Colorado linebacker Jordon Dizon.

But it wouldn't hurt to convince plenty of eyes, either.

"I know they look at me and the first thing they're thinking, it's definitely my size," Dizon said. "They want to know if somebody my stature can play linebacker in the NFL. I know there just aren't too many guys (my size) out there playing linebacker.

"So there are a lot of doubts. So the thing I have to do is go out there and prove that I can do it, get out there and show it as many times as I can."

So he has. Dizon, a four-year starter at linebacker and defensive captain for the Buffaloes, has made the rounds in the past two months. After finishing his senior season at CU, he played in the Hula Bowl and the Senior Bowl, went to the NFL's scouting combine and went through an on-campus pro day Wednesday.

All the while, many of the league's inquiring eyes are waiting to see if a player as productive as Dizon was in college can transfer that to the NFL, despite being 6-foot, 225 pounds.

Those are numbers that make personnel executives around the league pause when evaluating a linebacker. But Dizon has their attention because of 440 career tackles, a total that included 160 last season, when he was a finalist for the Butkus Award, to go with 137 in 2006.

He drew raves at Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Ala., for taking quality angles to the play and consistently putting himself where needed on the field.

Which is why trips to the postseason all-star games and the combine have been so important for Dizon - places he can show football skills, even though he will not measure up in raw physical data with the top prospects at the position.

"I know my measurables aren't that good, so my strength is running around, playing football, letting them see me play football," Dizon said. "So I've tried to put myself in as many football situations as I could since the season ended. At one point, right after the combine, it was a drain, but I took about a week off after that and then I came back to get ready for (Wednesday's) workout."

Dizon ran his two 40-yard dashes in 4.59 and 4.64 seconds on the various stopwatches, benched 225 pounds 12 times - a little low for a linebacker - and had a vertical jump of 34 1/2 inches. Dizon then was put through an extended positional workout.

"I got a little tired at the end, but I left it all out there," Dizon said. "Hopefully, I did what I had to do. Hopefully, they saw things they were impressed by. But if not, oh, well, I'll keep working. To me, I think I would be a perfect fit on the weak side in the NFL. That's where I played in college and that's where I could play in the NFL. But wherever they put me, I'll do it.

"But overcoming the size issue has always been my deal. I'm getting sick of it sometimes, but I do it. I overcome it every time it comes up."

Cherry Creek High School graduate Tyler Polumbus significantly improved his 40 time from the combine with a 5.13 pass Wednesday in the Buffaloes' indoor practice bubble after measuring in at 6-7 1/2, 305 pounds.

Cornerback Terrence Wheatley elected to stand on his combine times and went through position drills and posted a 38 1/2-inch vertical jump.

Running back Hugh Charles, who was not invited to the combine, had an impressive showing with a 4.49 40 and a 36 1/2-inch vertical jump - the second best of any prospect tested Wednesday. He did 25 reps in the bench press, the best of any prospect who lifted.

Broomfield High School graduate Chase McBride ran a 4.68 40 with several scouts lauding his intensity in the drills.

Also working out was Boulder native Tyler Tharp, who just finished his career as a quarterback at Boise State. But because the pro day on the Boise State campus included mostly offensive- line coaches there to see Ryan Clady, Tharp was not given the opportunity to throw.

By rule, he also could work out for scouts in a university in his hometown, so Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins, who came from Boise State, invited Tharp to throw.

"I didn't know they weren't going to ask me to throw (at Boise)," Tharp said. "I kind of assumed everyone would get a chance to work out, but that's just part of the process, just taking a hit and keep going and keep fighting.

"It was awesome to get to throw."

Rundown from CU pro day

Player Ht. Wgt. 40* Vertical

**DE Alonzo Barrett 6-2 7/8 232 4.89 29 1/2

RB Hugh Charles 5-8 191 4.49 36 1/2

TE Tyson DeVree 6-5 1/2 244 4.76 34 1/2

LB Jordon Dizon 6-0 225 4.59 34 1/2

S Lionel Harris 6-0 1/4 197 4.81 32 1/2

T Edwin Harrison 6-3 1/2 309 5.51 28 1/2

WR/QB Bernard Jackson 6-01/4 191 4.79 32 1/2

WR Chase McBride 5-6 1/4 173 4.68 31 1/2

T Tyler Polumbus 6-7 1/2 305 5.13 33

TE Joe Sanders 6-2 1/4 232 4.71 35

WR Dusty Sprague 6-3 190 4.55 32 1/2

CB Terrence Wheatley 5-9 1/2 188 DNR 38 1/2

***RB Mell Holliday 5-8 1/4 215 4.71 33

*-Best of a poll of several scouts. **-Did position drills as a linebacker.***-Finished eligibility in 2006 season.

Comments

  • March 20, 2008

    8:46 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    RustyWon writes:

    Dizon would be worth a mid round pick for sure. 4th round gem.
    If nothing else, he would be a special teams player who could get down the field and tackle.

    Let's see, what NFL team might want a special teamer who could actually tackle?

  • March 20, 2008

    9:38 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    AWM writes:

    Does anyone remeber a linebacker who wore 77 for the Broncos? He was undersized, drafted way late (12th round) & turned out be a pro-bowl calibler player.. take a chance Shanny!

  • March 21, 2008

    12:52 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Spider writes:

    I hope the work out a deal to get a 3rd rounder. Dizon won't be available in the 4th.