Another Penn State defensive lineman has been selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, as edge rusher Adisa Isaac is officially off the board. The former All-Big Ten defensive end was selected with pick No. 93 by the Baltimore Ravens on Friday night.
Issac is now the fourth Nittany Lion selected in this year’s draft, following a great first-round Thursday night that saw offensive tackle Olu Fashanu go 11th overall to the New York Jets and fellow edge rusher Chop Robinson go at pick No. 21 to the Miami Dolphins. Then, on Friday, offensive tackle Caedan Wallace went off the board before Isaac did with pick No. 68 of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Leadup to the Draft
While Robinson may have stolen the headlines at the NFL Combine, Isaac had a pretty good showing himself, finishing 10th overall as an edge rusher with a 74 athleticism score from NFL Next Gen Stats. In some ways, the players’ experience in Indianapolis called to mind their careers with the Nittany Lions. While Robinson earned much of the attention nationally from scouts, it was Isaac who led the team in both tackles for loss (16.5) and sacks (7.5) this past season.
A native of Brookyn, N.Y., Isaac made an immediate impact when he arrived at Penn State in 2019, playing in 11 games as a backup that season. His snaps increased in 2020, but it was the 2021 season that was supposed to be his breakout year until he tore his Achilles tendon that June and was forced to miss the entire season.
Isaac returned in 2022 and had an excellent season, leading the team in tackles for loss (11) before improving on that number during his senior season. He finished his Penn State career with 92 total tackles, including 31.5 for loss and 14.5 sacks.
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In addition to his film and combine performance, Issac’s decision to participate in the Senior Bowl also helped him.
“One of the big winners of Senior Bowl week, Isaac showed pass-rushing traits [quickness, flexibility, and strength] that project to starter level in the pros, despite being undersized at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds,” wrote ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller.
James Franklin also made it clear on multiple occasions that Isaac was a player that he’d proudly endorse to anyone in the NFL.
“He’s an impressive, impressive young man. His family situation, how his mom has raised him, his brothers and sisters, he’s just a phenomenal young man,” Penn State head coach James Franklin said.
“I got no problem pounding the table with NFL teams for Adisa. …That’s our goal, and our objective — to develop these guys as football players, but also to develop them as young men that you’re comfortable putting your name on them whether it’s in football or outside of football.”
NFL Combine Measurables
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