LIONS SIGN ROOKIE LB JORDON DIZON

Allen Park, Mich. - The Detroit Lions announced today that they have signed second-round draft choice LB Jordon Dizon to a four-year deal. Additional terms of

Allen Park, Mich. - The Detroit Lions announced today that they have signed second-round draft choice LB Jordon Dizon to a four-year deal. Additional terms of Dizon's contract were not disclosed.

Dizon (6-0, 229) was drafted by the Lions in the second round (45th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. The linebacker out of Colorado brings exceptional instincts and tackling skills to the Lions' linebacking corp.

Including bowl games, Dizon registered 463 tackles during his career, the eighth-best total in NCAA major college history and the second-best among active players. Colorado, which recognizes only regular-season statistics, placed Dizon fourth on its all-time record chart. Only Barry Remington (493, 1982-86), Matt Russell (446, 1993-96) and Greg Biekert (441, 1989-92) produced more stops during their CU careers.

In 48 games, Dizon started 46 times, averaging 9.17 tackles per game, as he collected 440 hits (293 solo) with 12 sacks for minus-97 yards, 35 stops for losses (137 yards) and 15 quarterback pressures. He caused three fumbles, recovered two others and deflected nine passes while participating in 2,547 regular-season snaps. He gained 79 yards with a score on two interceptions and posted 48 third-down stops, the second-most in school history.

In 2007, Dizon became the first Colorado defensive player to win Big 12 Conference Player of the Year honors and the first to garner league player of the year honors among CU defenders since cornerback Deon Figures earned the nod in 1992. No player in college had more tackles (173) or averaged more tackles per game (13.31) in 2007 than Dizon.

Dizon saw one of the finest seasons by a true freshman in school history in 2004, as he was Colorado's first true freshman to be recognized as the Big 12 Conference's Defensive Newcomer of the Year (Associated Press) and the Defensive Freshman of the Year (league coaches) awards. The Sport News and Rivals.com selected him as a second-team Freshman All-American, he earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors and led all freshmen in the conference in tackles with 82 (51 solo) which established a true freshman record as he bettered the old total by 15 stops (it was the second-most tackles posted by a freshman, redshirt or true, missing a new mark by just four).

At Waimea High School, Dizon earned Prep Football Report and Prep Star All-West honors, earning second-team All-State and Kauai Interscholastic Federation (KIF) All-Star accolades. PFR ranked him as the 65th-best player in the region and the third-ranked running back, calling him "potentially the top fullback on the west coast," and Rivals.com ranked him as the eighth-best running back prospect nationally.