OWINGS MILLS — The Ravens looked to boost their pass rush by selecting Penn State edge defensive end Adisa Isaac in the third round (93rd overall) of the 2024 NFL draft on Friday.
Last season, Isaac started all 13 games for the Nittany Lions and finished with 37 tackles (23 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 7 1/2 sacks, four quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He finished fourth in the Big Ten in tackles for loss per game (1.2; T-28th) and fifth in sacks per game (0.6)
Isaac earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media and second-team All-Big Ten accolades from the coaches. Isaac was also named Penn State’s Defensive MVP and was the team’s Reid-Robinson Award winner, recognizing the most outstanding defensive lineman. Preseason.
“I had a good feeling that the Ravens had high hopes for me, and they thought highly of me, so I thought it would be a good fit,” Isaac said. “I have one of my former teammates [there], Odafe Oweh, so he helped recruit me to Penn State, so that’s really great. We were close. Just seeing that connection, seeing how it ended up happening, it’s amazing. It really is.”
The Ravens are looking to equal last season’s production with getting to the quarterback, finishing with an NFL-best 60 sacks.
The team’s current group of edge rushers includes Odafe Oweh (three sacks), Tavius Robinson (one sack), David Ojabo (one sack), Malik Hamm (injured reserve), and Kyle Van Noy (nine sacks).
The team will need more production from those players after outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (9 1/2 sacks) signed a free-agent contract with the Carolina Panthers.
Isaac will work closely with pass rush coach Chuck Smith to get acclimated with the speed and strength of NFL offensive linemen.
“I’ve heard a lot about him throughout my college career,” Isaac said about Smith. “I’ve always heard the name – Chuck Smith, Chuck Smith – and just never was able to put a face to it. So now, it all came full circle, and I’m able to work with him one-on-one. So, it’s just amazing, and I’m just excited to learn. There’s a lot of great coaches and a lot of experience, so I’m just excited to improve myself and meet all of these exciting coaches and players.”