Andy Isabella is a name an average college football fan would not know. It is also a name that many NFL fans may not know either. However, Isabella continues to turn heads after an excellent showing at the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Alabama. He was named the North’s Most Outstanding Player with a game-high seven receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown in the game. Could he be a target for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
“I was just more determined,” said Isabella when he was asked about his performance after the game. If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers choose to move on from Adam Humphries, they could target a guy like Isabella.
Scouts raved about his quickness and shiftiness on the field. Heading toward the end of the college football season, questions followed Isabella regarding how he would fare against Power 5 conference competition. He quickly answered those questions during the game against University of Georgia at Sanford Stadium.
Georgia versus UMass wasn’t exactly competitive. That being said, Isabella was a lone bright spot for the Minutemen as he amassed 15 receptions for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Georgia went on to compete in the SEC championship game against the University of Alabama.
College Career
Okay, so you may think that was a fluke game, but guess what? It was not! Isabella was dynamic during his entire senior season. He totaled 102 receptions for 1,698 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. When taking into consideration that Isabella stands at about 5’10” and 190 pounds, the 13 touchdowns may be the most impressive statistic from his senior year.
The NFL has used a three-receiver set on 73.0% of pass plays this season, according to ShardFootballStats.com. In a league that is becoming more dependent on using slot receivers, Isabella’s draft stock will continue to rise.
His versatility also showed during Senior Bowl week. Isabella returned punts in practice, showcasing his speed and excellent hands. Additionally, Isabella proved throughout his collegiate career that he could be incorporated into many different dimensions of the offense.
Special Teams
During his tenure with UMass, Isabella returned 33 kicks/punts for 520 yards. He averaged 15.76 yards per return. Also, Isabella gained 342 yards rushing on 40 attempts. This gives the former Minuteman an average of 8.55 yards per attempt. My NFL player comparison for Isabella would be Percy Harvin or Tavon Austin because of their quickness, versatility and size.
In 2018, Isabella was selected to be part of the College Football All-America Team. Other names selected on the team were fellow wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, running back Jonathan Taylor and Tua Tagovailoa. This accomplishment, along with his Senior Bowl showing, prove that Isabella can hang with elite competition. Make no mistake, Andy Isabella is a name to watch out for on draft night.
