LB Jordon Dizon

2006 Statistics

Coach: Dan Hawkins
2-10, 1 year
2006 Record: 2-10
MONTANA STATE LOST 10-19
vs. Colorado State LOST 10-14
ARIZONA STATE LOST 3-21
at Georgia LOST 13-14
at Missouri LOST 13-28
BAYLOR LOST 31-34 (3OT)
TEXAS TECH WON 30-6
at Oklahoma LOST 3-24
at Kansas LOST 15-20
KANSAS STATE LOST 21-34
IOWA STATE WON 33-16
at Nebraska LOST 14-37
 

2006 Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR

2007 Outlook

Bringing high expectation with his moniker as one of the top five coaches (over his first 50 games) in I-A history, Dan Hawkins produced the worst record here since 1984 in his first year at the helm. But in taking over a program that was so internally beleaguered due to mismanagement (Gary Barnett fiasco), healing meant taking a step back to now surge forward. The sophisticated offense Hawkins introduced last year will soon have much more capable QBs to make it work, and the starter is no less than a direct extension of the ex-Boise chief himself – his boy Cody. Hawkins & Son will bring a passing dimension that phenom Bernard Jackson – last year’s signal caller – couldn’t muster, though Jackson’s “demotion” allows him to become a multi-role weapon who will pose matchup problems as he comes at defenses from every position/angle possible. We expect the passing element to compound (after they only threw it about 250 times as a team), and more balance in the play calling this way will initiate more points. The different spread elements in their arsenal will likely be revealed methodically as the new QB(s) show their grasp of the system. The Buffalo defense was already playing decent football, so returning seven starters should mean improvements to their 66th-ranked effort. Concerns on that side of the pigskin include pass coverage and replacing both starters at end, but we fully expect that CU’s stopping efforts can again keep them in ball games when the offense is held. The difference between this year and last will be that the offense, once it gets rolling, can now close the deal and even mount comebacks. Some will point to departed All-American kicker Crosby as a hole that could affect the team’s ability to get an easy three when needed, but career-backup Kevin Eberhart has the same huge leg and even more physicality. It all looks great on paper, though, how much this team improves in the win column is debatable. The schedule is daunting - their tough non-con slate is buffered by Nebraska, Mizzu and Oklahoma all having to visit Folsom Field. Just don’t be dissuaded about CU by any early struggles, for this team will eventually emerge and play (close to) on par with even the best Big 12 foes. Regardless, this is an up-and-coming team that, once again, cannot be ignored as a viable role-player in the nation’s college football spectrum.


Projected 2007 record: 5-7
COLORADO
*POWER RATINGS
Offense
Defense
QB - 3 DL - 3.5
RB - 3.5 LB - 4
WR - 3.5 DB - 3
OL - 3.5 ..
RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Bernard Jackson, 108-219-7, 1298 yds., 7 TD

Rushing: Hugh Charles, 139 att., 779 yds., 1 TD

Receiving: Riar Geer, 24 rec., 261 yds., 3 TD

Scoring: Bernard Jackson, 7 TD, 42 pts.

Punting: Matt DiLallo, 47 punts, 43.7 avg.

Kicking: None

Tackles: Jordon Dizon, 137 tot., 80 solo

Sacks: Jordon Dizon, 4 sacks

Interceptions: Terrence Wheatley, 5 for 26 yds.

Kickoff Returns: Stephone Robinson, 15 ret., 17.4 avg., 0 TD

Punt Returns:
Stephone Robinson, 15 ret., 5.1 avg., 0 TD

 

RB Hugh Charles
  COLORADO
OFFENSE - 9
----RETURNING STARTERS----
DEFENSE - 7
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: James Cox-QB, Mell Holliday-TB, Dan Goettsch-TE, Brian Daniels-OG, Bryce MacMartin-C, Mark Fenton-C, Mason Crosby-K
DEFENSE: Abraham Wright-DE, Walter Boye-Doe-DE, Thaddaeus Washington-MLB, Terry Washington-CB, Lorenzo Sims-CB, J.J. Billingsley-SS
2007 OFFENSE

Dan Hawkins learned the hard way about the realities of playing in the Big 12 – they consistently have quicker and tougher defenses than in the WAC. Running the ball nearly twice as much as they passed it in 2006, CU actually needs to start passing it more to really open up those running lanes. Accordingly, the developments at QB have been promising during spring ball. RS freshman Cody Hawkins (yes, coach Dan’s son) has the pedigree to succeed – besides the inherent genetics for the game, this former Gatorade Player of the Year (Idaho) has 4.7 speed (in the 40) and an innate ability to survey the entire field. His upside is huge, but will not be realized until real game reps teach him what he still needs. JUCO-transfer Nick Nelson is the same kind of heady player who represents a true upgrade for the position. Nelson has two inches on Hawkins and has had sporadic streaks of brilliance (in 7-on-7 drills), but Hawkins’ huge spring game has him (presently) poised for the start. What happened, you say, to Bernard Jackson, last year’s preferred signal caller? The prospects of Hawkins and Nelson allow Jackson’s super quick abilities to be applied elsewhere – he will be seen with the ball in a variety of roles, and probably will be counted on to still throw it a bit. This all bodes well, and developments at QB are one of the main reasons why we think this team is on the rise. With Jackson seeing time at running back, fellow senior Hugh Charles may also see his role expand, especially if/when both of them are in at the same time. FB Maurice Cantrell is the kind of plow needed to take out even the biggest linemen, though he only gets touches every other Boulder moon. Four-star JUCO-transfer P.T. Gates, who is working hard in class to assure his arrival this fall, should press well-sized senior Byron Ellis for backup time. Two senior starters back at tackle mean secure play development when things proceed outside the box. The inside is grounded by versatile center Daniel Sanders (Rimington watch list) as he helps initiate the two new starters at guard. Freshman Wes Palazzi surged past injured Erick Faatagi to earn one start, while Devin Head - “the most talented (prep) offensive lineman in California” (PrepStar) - gets the other. Even with the nation’s No.2 tackle prospect (Ryan Miller) as insurance, an injury rash up front would really hurt the win total. The top five snarlers all return to give the new QBs plenty of proven targets. Ex-sprinter/long jumper Patrick Williams uses his entire 6’2 frame well to shield corners, while Alvin Barnett is more of the possession type needed for important (third-down) conversions. The Buffalo’s third receiver, 6’4 senior Dusty Sprague, is a great field-stretcher; just don’t be surprised when Jackson adds that moniker to his résumé, too. But the team’s top pass catcher in ’06 was (soon-to-be all-conference) TE Riar Geer, and this kid is merely a sophomore who is still developing. This all adds up to more balance and, therefore, vast improvements to last year’s 102nd-ranked total offense. If young coordinator/QB coach Mark Helfrich cannot make more out of this much potential/talent, Hawkins needs to possibly change who leads the Buff’s point producing charge.

 

OT Edwin Harrison

 

COLORADO 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Cody Hawkins-Fr (5-11, 190) Nick Nelson-Jr (6-1, 220)
Bernard Jackson-Sr (6-0, 200)
FB Maurice Cantrell-Jr (6-0, 240) Samson Jagoras-Sr (5-10, 225)
TB Hugh Charles-Sr (5-8, 190) Byron Ellis-Sr (6-0, 215)
WR Patrick Williams-Jr (6-2, 200) Cody Crawford-Jr (5-11, 175)
Bernard Jackson-Sr (6-0, 200)
WR Alvin Barnett-Sr (5-11, 190) Dusty Sprague-Sr (6-4, 190)
Stephone Robinson-Sr (5-8, 190)
TE Riar Geer-So (6-3, 245) Joe Sanders-Sr (6-3, 235)
OT Tyler Polumbus-Sr (6-8, 300) ..
OG Wes Palazzi-Fr (6-1, 285) Erick Faatagi-Jr (6-2, 310)
C Daniel Sanders-Jr (6-3, 305) Keenan Stevens-Fr (6-3, 275)
OG Devin Head-So (6-4, 285) ..
OT Edwin Harrison-Sr (6-4, 300) ..
K Kevin Eberhart-Sr (5-11, 195) Jim Parra-Fr (5-6, 140)

 

2007 DEFENSE

Second-year coordinator Ron Collins followed Hawkins here from Boise, and he has learned the same tough lessons as his boss concerning foe’s increased speed at this BCS-aligned level. The thrust of this was seen in CU’s 94th-ranked secondary. Three of the four DB starters return, so maturity will equal improvements with this much raw talent to hone. Junior safety Ryan Walters is an ex-QB-WR who is still learning the position (though “he can clean clocks”, adds defensive leader Jordan Dizon), but senior counterpart Lionel Harris already knows the ropes pretty well and will be needed for his leadership with the other inexperienced candidates on the two-deep. Another senior leader there to help the secondary improve is Terrance Wheatley, who is as dangerous at open field tackling as he is in coverage. This all-conference corner will not see many throws come his way, so ex-sprinter and Lone Tree-native Ben Burney will be tested early and often as he bumps up from nickel/dime packages. The last two incoming classes were light in the DB department, making any injury rashes likely damaging to the D’s overall stopping power. The linebackers are an established group - middle man Mike Sipili excelled as a freshman backup at run stopping with his girth; speed merchant Brad Jones is ready to have a breakout campaign; and all-conference weaksider Dizon (also the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2004, the first CU true frosh ever to earn such) only had the 11th-most tackles (per game) in I-A last season. Junior LB backups Marcus Burton (Iron Buffalo) and R.J. Brown (Dick Anderson) both earned spring accolades due to their progress, so there is no excuse for this much depth/talent not to produce more. The situation along the Buffalo front seems workable at first glance – the two returning starters inside are bolstered by oft-played subs who are now atop the depth chart on the ends. But new DE starters Lucas and Barnett, who combined for 300+ snaps in ’06, only earned one sack or TFL between them (though Barnett was recognized with the Dan Stavely Award this spring as the most improved DLman), so expect a liberal rotation come September where JUCO-transfer Drew Hudgins (recovering from knee surgery, expected back by August) and Marquez Herrod get ample chances to prove if they can do better. It’s a good thing tackles Brandon Nicolas and George Hypolite play like ends, using power/bull rushing and speed to have just finish with 57 and 50 tackles, respectively. The starting tackles are ostensibly sub-300-pounders, and with their backups also coming in rather light (around 260), dealing with the conference’s top OLs for 60 minutes will have its price in the fourth quarters if more quality girth isn’t found. The stat to watch (besides points allowed) that will best signal if this side of the ball (especially the secondary) is improving will be opponent’s third-down conversion rate. Collins’ bunch gave up first-downs 48% of the time last year, and with the back seven allowing 134 (of their opponent’s 222) first-downs via the pass, DB coach Greg Brown has much to prove with his (player’s) efforts. Improvements will be seen, and any upgrades here will (just like their offensive passing dimensions) define the 2007 Buffaloes.

 

CB Terrence Wheatley

 

COLORADO 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Maurice Lucas-Jr (6-4, 255) Drew Hudgins-Jr (6-4, 235)
DT George Hypolite-Jr (6-1, 285) Eric Lawson-Fr (6-3, 260)
NT Brandon Nicolas-Jr (6-3, 280) Jason Brace-So (6-4, 265)
DE Alonzo Barrett-Sr (6-3, 235) Marquez Herrod-Fr (6-2, 255)
SLB Brad Jones-Jr (6-3, 225) Bryan Stengel-So (6-2, 210)
MLB Michael Sipili-So (6-1, 250) R.J. Brown-Jr (6-1, 225)
WLB Jordon Dizon-Sr (6-0, 225) Marcus Burton-Jr (6-0, 245)
CB Terrence Wheatley-Sr (5-10, 175) Jalil Brown-Fr (6-1, 205)
CB Benjamin Burney-Jr (5-11, 195) Jimmy Smith-Fr (6-2, 200)
SS Lionel Harris-Sr (6-0, 195) Daniel Dykes-Jr (6-2, 205)
FS Ryan Walters-Jr (5-11, 200) Terry Wilson-Jr (5-10, 205)
P Matt DiLallo-So (6-1, 205) Tom Suazo-Jr (5-11, 190)

 

 

2007 SPECIAL TEAMS

Goodbye Groza Award finalist Mason Crosby, hello senior Kevin Eberhart. This local Broomfield-product, though unproven on this level, has arguably the same leg power as the departed All-American – whom he backed up for three years – and also brings a speed-toughness factor better suited for using him on fakes. Matt DiLallo was the nation’s 16th-ranked punter who afforded CU their 31st-ranked net results, two stats that should continue on the same high level. Hugh Charles and Bernard Jackson were bumped in this spring to help the sagging KO return results produced by Stephone Robinson, though Robinson will retain his role as punt returner…for now.