While perusing magazines at the Denver airport the other week, Jordon Dizon was tempted to purchase a couple, but "wasn't in the mood."

And that's with his face on two of the covers.

Dizon is on regional covers for Lindy's Sports Annuals on its Colorado preview and Athlon Sports on its Big 12 Conference preview.

"They had to put someone on there," said the 2004 Waimea graduate, who said his mom and girlfriend bought a few. "It's definitely an honor to be on a couple of magazines, and a little recognition doesn't matter as much to me, but it's nice to have the memorabilia when I leave."

Dizon, a 6-foot, 225-pound senior inside linebacker, is 17th in career tackles (280) for Colorado. If he repeats his numbers from last season, when he tallied 137, he could end up in the top five.

Dizon was one of 42 players to be named to the preseason watch list for the Lott Trophy, which is given to the top defensive player in the nation.

"It doesn't mean anything," he said. "Preseason is far from the truth. I haven't gotten any award after the season."

While that isn't true — Dizon was Colorado's first true freshman to be named the conference's Defensive Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press; Defensive Freshman of the Year by Big 12 coaches, and honorable mention Big 12 honors the past two seasons — linebackers coach Brian Cabral said the honors don't matter to Dizon.

"He's always been very humble," said Cabral, a Saint Louis School alum. "He's the kind of guy who wants to go out and do what he's supposed to do. He doesn't do it for the accolades or so people will think he's a good player."

Along with Dizon, Colorado's 2007 roster lists three other linebackers from Hawai'i: B.J. Beatty of Kahuku, R.J. Brown of Punahou and Mike Sipili of Damien.

Dizon was chosen by teammates as the defensive captain — in his sophomore season he deferred his starting role in the Big 12 title game to a hometown senior — and Brown was chosen as the special teams captain.

"I have a lot of pride," said Cabral, who just returned from Hawai'i, where he runs the Just Win football camp on Maui. "One, because they are from Hawai'i, and to see them do well and see the respect everybody has for them, that does make me proud. And I recruited them. You always want to see the guys you recruit succeed and do well, especially those from the Islands.

"I went through exactly what they went through and I know how it feels, and I'm proud of them for doing what they're doing."

Kai Maiava of Baldwin and Sione Tau of Damien will join the Buffs this season.

"Colorado wasn't a big Hawai'i recruiter," Dizon said. "I think they finally realized we have players over here. They realized we have ballers."

Cabral said when Dizon — who played running back and linebacker at Waimea — was recruited, it was as an "athlete."

The first day of fall camp, coaches still didn't know where he would play. He started out at strong safety, but two days in they tried him at linebacker.

"He's got natural tools, and natural instincts," Cabral said. "And speed, mental and physical toughness. You kind of expect that from guys from Hawai'i."

In his freshman season, Dizon admittedly played like "a chicken without a head."

Cabral has coached All-Americans and future NFL players, and Dizon is the only one to start all four years.

"For a freshman, to do what he did, it was pretty incredible," Cabral said. "Physically, he was ready to play. He had the ability, speed, toughness, and he was very instinctive."

When asked whether he thinks about his professional future, Dizon flatly replied, "No."

"I think he has a great chance," Cabral said of Dizon's NFL chances. "He'll have to remain healthy and have a good year. I believe him when he says he's not thinking about it. He's concentrating on having his best year for the team."

COLORADO NOTES

B.J. Beatty enters fall listed third at outside linebacker. He had eight tackles (seven solo) and a third-down stop in the four full spring scrimmages. ... R.J. Brown received the Dick Anderson Award for a player with outstanding toughness for his efforts in spring practice. He earned a scholarship following the '06 season. ... Mike Sipili enters the fall listed atop the depth chart at the "mike" inside linebacker position. He earned honorable mention Freshman All-America honors by The Sporting News in 2006.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.