Ravens Rookie Overcame Major Injury on Road to NFL

Baltimore Ravens third-round pick Adisa Isaac did not play in 2021 due to injury, but the Penn State pass rusher bounced back in the last two years to become an NFL player.

Jeremy Brener | Apr 27, 2024

Penn State defensive end Adisa Isaac (20) enters the field with the rest of the defensive unit for / Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Baltimore Ravens

It's been a long road for Baltimore Ravens pass rusher Adisa Isaac.

The 22-year-old played four seasons at Penn State, but in the middle of his collegiate career, Isaac sat out in 2021 recovering from an Achilles injury. He hadn't done much at Penn State up until that point, recording three sacks in two seasons combined in a reserve role.

Of course, Isaac was an underclassman, so playing time was expected to be scarce. But with an injury derailing his opportunity when he was set to take on a bigger role, it remained a mystery as to whether Isaac would have a future at Penn State, let alone one in the NFL.

But he attacked rehab hard, recovering physically and strengthening his game off the field. When he returned to Penn State in 2022, Isaac was a completely different player, recording 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. While Isaac could have declared for the draft, he opted to attend one more season at Penn State, and the decision paid off. Isaac built on his strong redshirt junior year with 16 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, becoming one of the best pass rushers in the Big Ten.

"I probably would say it was [one of biggest decisions of my life] because who knows what would have happened last year if I would have come out?" Isaac said via All Penn State. "Look, you might not have been able to see this type of season this year if I would have left. Everything happens for a reason. That’s why I stay even-keeled and trust the process."

Isaac was able to parlay his smart decision into being selected on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, something that probably wouldn't have happened a year ago. And now, he's even more prepared to contribute for the Ravens in his rookie season.

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Published Apr 27, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.