Jordon Dizon Jordon Dizon ( born January 16 , 1986 ) is a retired American football linebacker who last played for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League ( NFL ) . Dizon played college football for the University of Colorado , and was recognized as an All - American . The Detroit Lions selected him in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft , and he played for the Lions for two seasons . He suffered a severe knee injury in 2010 , which concluded his career . Early years . Dizon was born and raised on the Hawaiian island of Kaua ' i . The son of Clifford Dizon and Darla Abbatiello - Higa , he attended Waimea High School , graduating in 2004 . 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 . During that year , Dizon rushed 37 times for 376 yards and five touchdowns in a 55 - 0 win over Kapaa - - all career highs . Injured through most of his senior season ( two games played : one carry , 12 yards , one touchdown ; nine catches , 250 yards , three touchdowns ) , the Buffaloes were the only program to extend Dizon a scholarship offer , although he was recruited by other Big 12 and Pac - 10 schools . He committed to play in Boulder on July 8 , 2003 , despite never having visited the state of Colorado . Dizon also lettered in basketball , track , and soccer during his time in high school . College career . Dizon attended the University of Colorado , where he played for the Colorado Buffaloes football team from 2004 to 2007 . He first played safety as a true freshman at Colorado , but was moved to linebacker before the season began . 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 . Playing in all 12 games as an 18 - year old , Dizon easily set the school freshman record for tackles in a season with 82 . Over the next two years , Dizon continued to rack up the tackles , posting 61 in 2005 and 137 in 2006 . The latter number was most tackles made by a CU player in nearly a decade ( Ryan Sutter had 170 in 1997 ) . 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 . Rarely leaving the field for the Buffs , Dizon missed only 34 of Colorado ' s 830 defensive snaps during the 2007 season . His 160 tackles were nearly double the next closest player on the team ( safety Dan Dykes registered 83 ) , and he finished his senior season with the most total tackles of any player on any Division I team in the nation . Colorado linebackers coach Brian Cabral , who recruited Dizon out of high school , called the senior " the most complete , every down player that I ' ve ever coached . " As a senior , Dizon recorded the best statistical season for a Buff linebacker since Matt Russell ' s 1996 Butkus - winning campaign . He was voted runner - up for the 2007 Butkus Award , given each year to college football ' s best linebacker . Dizon was recognized as a consensus first - team All American , after receiving first - team honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation , the Associated Press , Sporting News , ESPN , and Rivals . com 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 . A four - year starter for the Buffs , Dizon finished his collegiate career as the second - leading tackler among all active players . Professional career . 2008 Draft . During CU ' s pro timing day , Dizon ran the forty yard dash in 4 . 59 seconds — which would have registered among the five fastest times recorded by a linebacker at the 2008 NFL Combine . His 34 . 5 inch vertical jump also impressed scouts , while Dizon ' s meager 12 repetitions lifting 225 pounds was considered poor for a linebacker . On April 26 , 2008 , Dizon was chosen 45th overall in the 2nd round of the 2008 draft by the Detroit Lions . Detroit Lions . Dizon ' s first season saw the rookie struggle to find consistent playing time . He finished the season with 31 total tackles , 14 of which came on special teams . When hired in January 2009 , coach Jim Schwartz changed defensive schemes , moving Dizon back to the outside linebacker position . 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 . He works really hard at it . He wants to do better , he wants to do it right and he really works at it . I ’ ve been really pleased with the work he ’ s done . " Dizon tore two tendons in his knee and damaged a third during the 2010 NFL preseason . He was placed on injured reserve on August 16 , 2010 . He was released by the Lions on July 28 , 2011 . Personal . Dizon graduated from the University of Colorado in May 2008 with a degree in economics . He attended Waimea High School in Kauai , Hawaii , the westernmost high school in the United States . Growing up in Kauai , Dizon often hunted wild boar with only a knife . He is an avid golf er , shooting sub - 80 before his senior season began . Dizon is sponsored by Under Armour . Six days before the NFL Draft , he was arrested for suspicion of DUI . Thus far , he has pled not guilty to the charge .