Adisa Isaac, Edge Penn State: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Isaac was a four-star recruit from Canarsie High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. in the class of 2019

Penn State has two pass rushers that will contend for spots in the 2024 NFL Draft this upcoming season. Redshirt senior Adisa Isaac is an explosive, bendy, and fluid edge defender who enters the year with plenty of talent and a lot to prove.

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Adisa Isaac, Edge Penn State: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt senior defensive end from Brooklyn, N.Y.

Background: Isaac was a four-star recruit from Canarsie High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. in the class of 2019. He was the No. 92 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 181 for Rivals, and No. 122 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 80th in the nation with an 84 grade out of 100. Isaac lettered four times at Canarsie, was a team captain three times, and earned team MVP honors twice. He amassed 88 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, and 25 sacks as a high school senior, setting the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) and Canarsie records for sacks in a season. He wrapped up his junior campaign with 57 tackles, eight sacks, and a safety. As a sophomore, Isaac tallied 53 tackles, five sacks, a fumble recovery, and an interception. He had 12 tackles and a sack as a freshman. Isaac participated in Nike’s The Opening Regional and was invited to the Boomer Game and Fugazzi Bowl. USA Today named him All-USA New York Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. Isaac was voted National Football Foundation New York City Mr. Football in 2018. He was the Big 44 Defensive Player of the Year as a junior. Isaac earned All-City honors three times. He also lettered in track and field.

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed the entire 2021 season with a torn Achilles

Awards: 2022 Third-Team All-Big Ten (Coaches)

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, and field goal block units, arm length meets thresholds, room to add mass on his frame, appears to have a loose lower half, explosive first step, fires off the line with good leverage and leg drive, attacks the tackle’s inside shoulder, dips under larger tackles, impressive bend, chop and swipe moves, swim counter, long-arm move, hesitation move, flashes of getting into the tackle’s pads, lateral bounce to get from the C-gap to the B-gap quickly, occasionally drives tight ends into the backfield, redirects from blocks to make tackles in pursuit, scrapes down the back of the offensive line for run stops, turns and drops into zone with good depth and fluid movement

Cons: Lean frame, limited play strength, looks lighter than listed weight, attempts to bull rush with limited success, timing and accuracy of his chops are inconsistent, hands lack pop, benefitted from wide alignments to shorten rush arcs, leaves his feet unnecessarily during his rush, inside rushes are ineffective because he gets stuck in the mess of bodies, speed-to-power conversion dies mid-play, too many instances of failing to win the outside track against average athletes, predictable pass rush plan, doesn’t get his hands in passing lanes, overwhelmed and finished by power in the run game, offers nothing against double teams, ability to defeat tight end blocks is inconsistent, can’t anchor the point of attack, burn the Ohio State (2022) tape

Overview: Isaac is a lean pass rusher with good arm length who primarily deploys from a two-point stance. He has experience rushing from three-point stances, but he looks most comfortable as a standup rusher. Isaac has room to add mass to his frame. He needs to hit the weight room to increase his play strength and maximize his upside as a pass rusher. Despite weighing less than his teammate Chop Robinson, Isaac uses more power rush moves. He appears to have a loose lower half and an explosive first step. Isaac fires off the line of scrimmage with good leverage and leg drive. He likes to use a long-arm move, but his power rushes and speed-to-power conversion die mid-play. Isaac attacks the tackle’s inside shoulder with nice lateral bounce between the C and B gaps. He dips under larger tackles and displays impressive bend on the outside track. The redshirt senior uses chops, swipes, hesitations, and a swim counter to beat linemen. He occasionally drives blocking tight ends into the backfield, but his ability to defeat tight end blocks is inconsistent. Isaac redirects from blocks to make tackles in pursuit. He scrapes down the back of the offensive line for run stops. Penn State uses Isaac in zone drops, and he looks fluid and comfortable in this role. The New York native has special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, and field goal block units. He looks lighter on tape than his listed weight. His attempts to bull rush often come up short. Isaac needs to refine the timing and accuracy of his hand chops. His hands lack the pop to stun or unsettle linemen. The former four-star recruit benefits from wide alignments to shorten rush arcs. He leaves his feet unnecessarily during his rush, which messes with his ability to chain power through his lower body. His inside rushes are ineffective because he gets stuck in the mess of bodies and lacks the contact balance to break through. There are still too many instances of Isaac failing to win the outside track against average athletes. His pass rush plan is very “copy, paste” and becomes predictable over the course of a game. Isaac is overwhelmed and finished to the ground by power in the run game. He can’t anchor the point of attack consistently. Isaac’s tape against Ohio State’s tackle duo in 2022 was horrendous.

Overall, Isaac is an explosive, bendy, and fluid pass rusher who lacks the mass and play strength to capitalize on his bevy of pass rush moves. Ideally, the redshirt senior adds another ten pounds to his frame before entering the NFL. He only projects as a rotational pass rusher at this point because of his inability to contribute against the run.

Role & Scheme Fit: Designated pass rusher in a 3-4 scheme

Round Projection: Late Fourth to Mid Fifth

Size: 6'4", 248 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 04-11-23