Adisa Isaac, with new fire, poised to help spur Penn State success

Before his Achilles rupture, Penn State defensive end Adisa Isaac might have expected to hear his name called at some point during the NFL Draft last weekend.

He was coming off a hopeful true sophomore season in 2020 behind Odafe Oweh, notching 13 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two quarterback hurries in nine games. A rotational player, Isaac would have been paired alongside Arnold Ebiketie to give Penn State a dynamic duo of edge rushers, both likely benefiting from the opportunity.

Isaac had long since relinquished that timeline by the time Ebiketie was drafted to the Atlanta Falcons. Taken with the sixth pick in the second round of the draft last Friday, Ebiketie’s future is one Isaac has had to put on hold. 

But, he certainly hasn’t given up on that dream as he approaches his redshirt junior season as a Nittany Lion.

“Everybody’s timing is different. Everything happens for a reason,” Isaac said in April. “We’re here for a reason, so we just have to live it out day by day. We can’t go back in the past. What’s done is done, so we just got to keep forward and make the best of it.”

Adisa Isaac’s spring progress

This spring, Isaac was widely praised within the Penn State football program for doing exactly that. 

Though handled cautiously by the Penn State coaching and training staff, a return to the field that began with light bowl practice participation grew steadily. From individual drills to reps in team periods and, eventually, limited contact work in the Blue-White Game, Isaac demonstrated how far he’d come.

For Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, seeing Isaac with fresh eyes as a result of the new role, that demonstration was an appetizing glimpse at what might be possible this fall. 

“He just has some things you can’t teach in terms of athleticism, his ability to bend, turning the corner, his length; the way he can kind of get his hands on offensive linemen,” Diaz said. “We’re excited to see him grow in his role every day. And the more he’s around, the more… he makes our corners better. Great players affect other guys that they play with, and I think Adisa’s got a chance to be that guy.”

Isaac is counting on it, but also not getting ahead of himself. 

Warmly receiving the changes implemented by Diaz in Penn State’s defense, Isaac acknowledged that he was still getting his feet wet. Part of that process involved just getting back into the movements of the position, which he’d gone months without doing. But as a late July start to preseason camp gets closer, now less than three months away, Isaac said he’s expecting to “really feel what that sack life is gonna be about.”

Next steps

It’s an expectation also shared by teammate Jesse Luketa, who picked up in the seventh round last weekend.

Nodding to the players he’s most excited to see, Luketa didn’t hesitate this spring to point out Isaac.

“Adisa Isaac is a little bit forgotten about because of his injury. He’s someone who I know is going to take the whole conference by force. I’m excited for him,” Luketa said. “He’s a destructive, fast, extremely intelligent player, someone who I’m looking forward to how he’s going to develop. He’s a four-year starter, leader of this defense, of this team. I’m excited for him.”

Trying to be more vocal in his leadership this spring, Isaac worked to help develop the skill. He used the film study, meetings, and on-field work to accomplish all.

Still also hoping to lead by example, though, Isaac is determined to play a major impact on the team’s success. Emboldened by his progress since the injury, he’s also optimistic over that which is still to come. And with it, Isaac faces an opportunity he’s eager to see bear dividends this fall. 

“It’s a new year, new team, so you got to come back with a new fire,” Isaac said. “It adds more fire to whatever the motivation that we already had, so it’s a plus.”