Penn State DE Isaac showing progress through two weeks
Penn State defensive end Adisa Isaac knew coming into the season that it may take some time for his play to catch up with his own expectations. After all, the redshirt junior defensive end missed the entire 2021 season after suffering an Achilles tendon injury in the offseason. Now back starting at the spot where the hopes were high before his injury, he’s beginning to round into form.
While he’s credited with just three tackles through two games, Isaac showed visible progress from week one to week two.
“Just knocking some of the rust off. My body [is] a little sore but that comes with it,” he said following the game. “But I feel great.”
In a four-play stretch over two drives in the third quarter against Ohio, Isaac combined on two tackles for loss and notched his first hurry of the season. In the Penn State media room on Saturday, he was once again upfront about not being in top form. Isaac estimated his progress to be in the neighborhood of 80-to-85 percent back and continues to do rehab work with the Penn State medical staff throughout the week. He’s also still learning to trust himself on the game field.
“I’ve been feeling OK on it throughout camp and going into the first game. “It’s just been a gradual thing that you just keep working through every game. Even if you feel like you can’t take this step, don’t even think about it. It’s something you can’t think about because it will take you out of your game,” he said. “Try to eliminate that thought of “My leg is hurt,” and just go, because you’re going to play faster.”
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Isaac and teammate PJ Mustipher, who is back in the starting lineup after suffering a knee injury last October, have been able to reflect on their respective roads back to the field.
“It’s kind of surreal. Just the whole process, it has been a whole year since we’ve been in the field,” Isaac recalled. “So it’s kind of surreal just to look back at how long the process was and everything that we went through to get back to where we are today. We just take it in and don’t take it for granted. And then keep building together, as a unit as well. So this is great.”
While the Nittany Lions defensive front has yet to register an official sack this season, Isaac and Maryland transfer Chop Robinson have both flashed as Penn State has gotten pressure.
“He’s a good player and he puts pressure on, both tackles don’t know what to expect,” said Isaac. “It could be speed or power. It’s a great compliment that they’re not just sitting on one side of the line and trying to slide everything that way. It keeps an even balance and helps everybody.”
