Dizon first Hawaii player drafted
| • | Miami goes Long with No. 1 |
Associated Press and Advertiser Staff
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Waimea High School graduate Jordon Dizon became the first player with Hawai'i ties selected in the 2008 NFL draft yesterday.
No University of Hawai'i players were picked among the 63 selections in the first two rounds.
The Detroit Lions took Dizon with the 45th overall pick in Round 2.
Dizon, a 6-foot tall, 225-pound Colorado linebacker, was an All-American and the runner-up for the Butkus Award, which goes each year to the nation's top linebacker.
He was credited with 463 tackles in his career as a four-year starter for the Buffs.
He runs the 40 in 4.63. He also had 12 repetitions of 225 pounds with a vertical of 34 1/2 inches.
It was the second year in a row that the Lions used a second-round pick on a Hawai'i player.
Last year, the Lions selected former University of Hawai'i defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis in Round 2.
Lions head coach Rod Marinelli said Dizon, who also will be given the chance to start, was attractive because he can play all three linebacker spots.
The Lions raved about Dizon's football instincts.
"When you put the tape on, he's in on all the plays," said Lions president and general manager Matt Millen.
Millen said he wasn't concerned about Dizon's size, saying the team will work to help him put on weight.
Dizon said he's heard about his perceived lack of size his entire collegiate career. "I did it in college. I did it in the Big 12. ... I guarantee I can do it" in the NFL, he said.
The third through seventh rounds of the draft will be held today, starting at 4 a.m., and former UH players Ryan Grice-Mullins, Colt Brennan, Davone Bess and Jason Rivers are still hopeful they will be selected.
Quarterback Brennan and receivers Rivers, Bess and Grice-Mullins helped the University of Hawai'i go 12-0 during the regular season last year.
In his three years at Hawai'i, Brennan set 31 NCAA records, and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting this past season.
Brennan is poised to become the first UH quarterback taken with the intention of playing that position since Larry Arnold, who was drafted in the 12th round by the Los Angeles Rams in 1969.
Brennan underwent successful labrum surgery March 6. Also, he has bulked up from 180 pounds at the Jan. 26 Senior Bowl to 218 at the April 1 Pro Day workout.
He added: "If they want a big ol' quarterback who can bring it, that's what they'll get."
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| DRAFT TRADES
1, New England traded its first- (No.7) and fifth-round (No. 164) picks to New Orleans for the Saints' first- (No. 10) and third-round (No. 78) picks. New Orleans selected Sedrick Ellis, dt, Southern California and (No. 164). New England selected Jerod Mayo, lb, Tennessee and (No. 78). 2, Baltimore traded its first-round (No. 8) pick to Jacksonville for the Jaguars' first- (No. 26); two third- (No. 71) and (No. 89) and fourth-round (No. 125) picks. Jacksonville selected Derrick Harvey, de, Florida. Baltimore traded No. 26 and No. 89 to Houston and selected (No. 71) and (No. 125). 3, Detroit traded its first- (No. 15) and third-round (No. 76) picks to Kansas City for the Chiefs' first- (No. 17), third- (No. 66) and fifth-round (No. 136) picks. Kansas City selected Branden Albert, g, Virginia and (No. 76). Detroit selected Gosder Cherilus, ot, Boston College; (No. 66) and (No. 136). 4, Houston traded its first-round (No. 18) pick to Baltimore for the Ravens' first- (No.26); third- (No. 89) and sixth-round (No. 173) picks. Baltimore selected Joe Flacco, qb, Delaware. Houston selected Duane Brown, ot, Virginia Tech; (No. 89) and (No. 173). 5, Philadelphia traded its first-round (No. 19) pick to Carolina for the Panthers' second-(No. 43); fourth- (No. 109) and 2009 first-round picks. Carolina selected Jeff Otah, ot, Pittsburgh. Philadelphia traded No. 43 to Minnesota and selected (No. 109). 6, Washington traded its first- (No. 21); third- (No. 84) and fifth-round (No. 154) picks to Atlanta for the Falcons' two second- (No. 34) and (No. 48) and fourth-round (No. 103) picks. Atlanta selected Sam Baker, ot, Southern California; (No. 84) and (No. 154). Washington selected Devin Thomas, wr, Michigan State; Fred Davis, te, Southern Cal and (No. 103). 7, Seattle traded its first-round (No. 25) pick to Dallas for the Cowboys' first- (No. 28); fifth- (No. 163) and seventh-round (No. 235) picks. Dallas selected Mike Jenkins, db, Florida. Seattle selected Lawrence Jackson, de, Southern Cal; (No. 163) and (No. 235). 8, Green Bay traded its first-round (No. 30) pick to the New York Jets for the Jets' second- (No. 36) and fourth-round (No. 113) picks. New York selected Dustin Keller, te, Purdue. Green Bay selected Jordy Nelson, wr, Kansas State and (No. 113). 9, Baltimore traded its second-round (No. 38) to Seattle for the Seahawks' second- (No. 55) and third-round (No. 86) picks. Seattle selected John Carlson, te, Notre Dame. Baltimore selected Ray Rice, rb, Rutgers and (No. 86). 10, Philadelphia traded its fourth-round (No. 115) pick to Miami for RB Lorenzo Booker. Miami selected (No. 115). 11, Philadelphia traded its second- (No. 43) and fifth-round (No. 152) picks to Minnesota for the Vikings' second- (No. 47) and fourth-round (No. 117) picks. Minnesota selected Tyrell Johnson, db, Arkansas State and (No. 152). Philadelphia selected Trevor Laws, dt, Notre Dame and (No. 117). 12, Tampa Bay traded its second-round (No. 52) pick to Jacksonville for the Jaguars' second- (No. 58); fifth-round (No. 158) picks and 2009 seventh-round pick. Jacksonville selected Quentin Groves, de, Auburn. Tampa Bay selected Dexter Jackson, wr, Appalachian State and (No. 158).
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