Penn State football star Adisa Isaac opens up on NFL Draft decision

Penn State football received the widely expected news that Nittany Lions star DE Adisa Isaac was declaring for the NFL Draft late Wednesday night. Isaac bet on himself by returning to Happy Valley for a fifth season, and it’ll likely pay dividends for the redshirt senior this spring. On Thursday morning, the top Penn State defender explained why he chose to make his announcement three days ahead of Saturday’s Peach Bowl matchup with Ole Miss.

Adisa Isaac opens up about NFL Draft decision

On Wednesday night, Penn State star EDGE rusher Adisa Isaac became the seventh Penn State football player to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft.  An unsurprising decision given the season that the redshirt senior put up, the timing of his announcement — late in the evening, less than 72 hours before the Nittany Lions take on Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl — may have caught some off guard.

During Peach Bowl media availability on Thursday morning, Isaac discussed why it was the right time to make his announcement. He also reiterated his comments from earlier in the bowl season about the importance of playing this final game.

“[I] kind of just thought throughout this bowl prep with family and some coaches,” Isaac said of his process. “Just getting the last little thoughts out there of what I should do.

“I thought it was best that I should go to the NFL, but after I play this last game with my teammates. I felt like that was important to me and important to this team. So that’s something I decided to do. I just felt like this was the right time. I felt like I’ve put in enough work throughout these past two years coming off of injury to put myself in a good position to make this kind of decision.”

Isaac’s gamble pays off for Penn State football

Few would have blamed Adisa Isaac if he had declared for the NFL Draft last year. The Penn State EDGE rusher had a strong 2022, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors a year removed from missing the entire 2021 season with an injury.

But Isaac took a risk by returning to Penn State for a fifth and final season. In retrospect, it’s a decision that will pay off massively for the Brooklyn native. The Nittany Lion defender finished the regular season with 35 tackles, good enough to be a first-team All-Big Ten honoree. His team-leading 15 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks are both tied for second in the Big Ten this season.

“I think after it happened, and even during the whole process, he took everything in stride, and he said to himself [that] he’s going to come back that much better,” DT Dvon Ellis said of Isaac’s bounce-back from injury. “Obviously, you’ve seen him play on film. You’ve seen how he’s operated in the last 12 weeks. It’s just been really special.”

Now, Adisa Isaac will get one more opportunity to cement his Penn State football legacy. Ahead of him in the Peach Bowl is an Ole Miss Rebels offense that is among the best the Nittany Lions have faced all season. But for Isaac, an important part of this Peach Bowl matchup is soaking in one final game with his teammates.

“I know we try to focus on what’s next all the time, but look to your left and look to your right and give the guy next to you a hug,” he said. “That’s what we always do in the defensive meeting room. So kind of just taking time and just taking a breath of fresh air and just enjoying it [is important this week].”