Isaac Sopoaga facts for kids
Sopoaga in the 2013 NFL season
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| No. 90, 97 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Nose tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | September 4, 1981 Pago Pago, American Samoa |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 330 lb (150 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Samoana (Utulei, American Samoa) | ||||||||
| College: | Hawaii | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2004 / Round: 4 / Pick: 104 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Isa'ako "Isaac" Sopoaga (pronounced soh-poh-AH-gə; born September 4, 1981) is a former professional American football player. He played as a nose tackle, which is a strong defensive player in the middle of the line. Isaac Sopoaga was picked by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2004 NFL Draft. Before joining the pros, he played college football at the University of Hawaii.
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Early Life and Sports
Isaac Sopoaga grew up in Pago Pago, American Samoa. He went to Samoana High School. There, he was a "letterman" in football, basketball, and baseball. Being a letterman means he was a top player on his school's sports teams.
In football, he was chosen for the All-League team twice. As a senior, he was named the League's Defensive Player of the Year. Growing up in Samoa, Isaac also played rugby. He says that throwing rocks at coconuts helped him develop a very strong throwing arm. He could reportedly throw a football 78 yards while standing still!
College Football Journey
Sopoaga started his college football career at the College of the Canyons. In his second year, he made an amazing 31 sacks. This is still the record for a single season in California community college football. He later took a year off before joining the University of Hawaii.
At the University of Hawaii, he was a starter in his junior and senior years. He made 128 tackles and had four sacks. In 2011, Isaac Sopoaga was honored by being added to the College of the Canyons Athletic Hall of Fame.
Becoming a Pro Player
Before the 2004 NFL draft, experts thought Sopoaga would be picked early. He was seen as one of the top defensive tackles available. At the NFL Scouting Combine, where players show off their skills, Sopoaga was incredibly strong. He lifted 225 pounds (about 102 kg) 42 times! This was one of the highest numbers ever recorded.
Scouts praised his "outstanding strength" and quickness. However, they also noted he sometimes stood too tall, which could make him less powerful. Despite this, the San Francisco 49ers picked him in the fourth round, as the 104th overall player. He was the highest-picked defensive lineman from Hawaii in many years.
Time with the San Francisco 49ers
Isaac Sopoaga joined the San Francisco 49ers in 2004. He missed his first season due to an injury. In 2008, the 49ers started using him as a defensive end. By 2010, he was a starting player.
Sopoaga even showed off his skills on offense sometimes! In a 2010 game against the Oakland Raiders, he lined up as a fullback. He made a key block that helped his team get a first down and win the game. His coach, Mike Singletary, said the idea came from a famous coach, Bill Walsh. In 2011, Sopoaga moved back to his main position, nose tackle. He even caught a pass for a first down in a game against the Cleveland Browns that year!
At the end of the 2012 season, Sopoaga and the 49ers made it to Super Bowl XLVII. They played against the Baltimore Ravens. The 49ers lost a close game, 34–31, but Sopoaga had four tackles in the big game.
Moving to New Teams
After his time with the 49ers, Sopoaga signed a three-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013. Later that year, he was traded to the New England Patriots. In 2014, he briefly signed with the Arizona Cardinals but was released before the season started.
Isaac Sopoaga's Family Life
Isaac Sopoaga comes from American Samoa. He grew up in a small fishing village called Fagasa. He is one of nine children, with four brothers and four sisters.
He also has a home in Hawaii, where he spends time when he's not playing football. Isaac's nephew, Penei Sewell, is also a very successful football player. Penei Sewell plays offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions and was a top pick in the 2021 NFL draft. He has won major awards like the Outland and Morris trophies.
Images for kids
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Sopoaga in the 2013 NFL season
