Andy Isabella (born November 18, 1996) is an American professional football wide receiver for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the UMass Minutemen,[1] and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft.

Andy Isabella
refer to caption
Isabella with the Arizona Cardinals in 2020
St. Louis Battlehawks
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1996-11-18) November 18, 1996 (age 28)
Mayfield, Ohio, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:188 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school:Mayfield (OH)
College:UMass (2015–2018)
NFL draft:2019 / round: 2 / pick: 62
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Receptions:33
Receiving yards:447
Receiving touchdowns:3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Isabella attended Mayfield High School in Mayfield, Ohio.[2] Isabella ran track in high school.[3] In his senior year of high school, Isabella won the state title in the 100-meter dash, beating fellow sprinter and future Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward in a close race.[4] He committed to the University of Massachusetts to play college football.[5][6] Isabella is of Italian heritage.[7]

College career

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Isabella played at UMass from 2015 to 2018. Initially recruited as a running back, he converted to wide receiver his sophomore year. During his career he had 231 receptions for 3,526 yards and 30 touchdowns.[8] As a senior, he was an All-American and was a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award.[9][10]

In 2018, he led the country in receiving yards per game (141.5) and was named to the 2018 College Football All-America Team. Isabella was Pro Football Focus's highest rated wide receiver in college football, posting a season grade of 93.2.[11]

College statistics

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Statistics

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Legend
Led NCAA Division I FBS
Bold Career high
Massachusetts Minutemen
Season Games Receiving Rushing Kick Returns Punt Returns
GP GS Rec Yds Avg TD Att Yds Avg TD Ret Yds Avg TD Ret Yds Avg TD
2015 9 1 2 7 3.5 0 3 28 9.3 0 17 315 18.5 0 0 0 0.0 0
2016 12 10 62 801 12.9 7 12 100 8.3 0 1 14 14.0 0 0 0 0.0 0
2017 12 12 65 1,020 15.7 10 14 135 9.6 1 5 114 22.8 0 2 22 11.0 0
2018 12 12 102 1,698 16.6 13 11 79 7.2 1 0 0 0.0 0 7 55 7.9 0
Career 45 35 231 3,526 15.3 30 40 342 8.6 2 23 443 19.3 0 9 77 8.6 0

Professional career

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Pre-draft

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 8 34 in
(1.75 m)
188 lb
(85 kg)
29 34 in
(0.76 m)
8 38 in
(0.21 m)
4.31 s 1.45 s 2.61 s 4.15 s 6.95 s 36.5 in
(0.93 m)
10 ft 1 in
(3.07 m)
15 reps
All values from NFL Combine[12][13]

Isabella declared for the 2019 NFL draft after his senior season.[14] At the combine, Isabella ran a 4.31 second 40 yard dash, which was the third fastest time at that year's combine, tied with Ohio State wide receiver Parris Campbell.[15]

Arizona Cardinals

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Isabella was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the 62nd overall pick in the second round of the draft.[16] The Cardinals acquired this selection in a trade that sent Josh Rosen to the Miami Dolphins.[17][18] In Week 9 against the San Francisco 49ers, Isabella caught one pass for an 88-yard touchdown in the 28-25 loss. This was Isabella's first career receiving touchdown in the NFL.[19] He finished his rookie season with nine receptions for 189 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.[20]

In Week 3 of the 2020 season, Isabella recorded four receptions for 47 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 26–23 loss to the Detroit Lions.[21]

Isabella entered the 2021 season sixth on the Cardinals wide receiver depth chart, and only had one catch the entire season and was inactive for half the season.

On October 4, 2022, the Cardinals waived Isabella.[22]

Baltimore Ravens

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On October 10, 2022, Isabella signed with the practice squad of the Baltimore Ravens.[23] On December 31, 2022, Isabella was elevated to Baltimore's active roster for Week 17 versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. On January 2, 2023, Isabella was put back on Baltimore's practice squad after a thigh injury versus Pittsburgh. On January 14, 2023, Isabella was elevated to Baltimore's active roster again for their playoff game versus the Cincinnati Bengals. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 19, 2023.[24] He was released on July 25, 2023.[25]

Buffalo Bills

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On July 28, 2023, Isabella signed with the Buffalo Bills.[26] He was waived on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad.[27][28] During the season, Isabella played in only two regular season games, and two playoff games. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 22, 2024.[29] He was released on August 27, 2024.[30]

Pittsburgh Steelers

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On October 25, 2024, Isabella signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad.[31] He was released on November 5.

St. Louis Battlehawks

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On October 2, 2024, Isabella signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL). He was re-signed on December 20, 2024 after his stint with the Steelers.[32]

NFL career statistics

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Regular season

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Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2019 ARI 15 1 9 189 21.0 88 1 4 15 3.8 6 0 0 0
2020 ARI 13 2 21 224 10.7 54 2 1 -6 -6.0 -6 0 1 1
2021 ARI 8 0 1 13 13.0 13 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2022 ARI 3 0 2 21 10.5 11 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
BAL 2 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 1 1.0 1 0 0 0
2023 BUF 2 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
Career 41 3 33 447 13.5 88 3 6 10 1.7 6 0 1 1

References

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  1. ^ "No. 23 Andy Isabella". umassathletics.com. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  2. ^ Connolly, John (September 9, 2017). "UMass receiver Andy Isabella overcomes odds". Boston Herald. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  3. ^ Noga, Joe (January 30, 2015). "Mayfield sprinter Andy Isabella posts nation's top indoor track time in 60-meter dash". cleveland.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  4. ^ Lesmerises, Doug (March 2, 2019). "Mayfield's Andy Isabella beat Denzel Ward in high school track, can he beat his NFL combine 40 time?". cleveland.com. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  5. ^ Malone, Daniel (August 20, 2015). "Five questions: Freshman speedster Andy Isabella looking to make impact for UMass football". masslive.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  6. ^ Podolski, Mark. "How 6.72 seconds changed Mayfield grad Andy Isabella's football life". The News-Herald. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  7. ^ "Meet Andy Isabella, the stud WR prospect with the huge numbers". The Draft Wire. February 14, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "No. 5 Georgia overwhelms UMass, but WR Andy Isabella holds his own".
  9. ^ Podolski, Mark. "Mayfield grad Andy Isabella finalist for Biletnikoff Award". The News-Herald.
  10. ^ Podolski, Mark. "Family rooting for Andy Isabella as Mayfield grad eyes Biletnikoff Award". The News-Herald.
  11. ^ "Andy Isabella is much more than a slot receiver, can 'do it all' | NFL Draft news and analysis | Pro Football Focus". www.profootballfocus.com. February 20, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  12. ^ "Andy Isabella Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  13. ^ "2019 Draft Scout Andy Isabella, Massachusetts NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  14. ^ Farnsworth, Josh (January 28, 2019). "Isabella Rising: UMass WR impresses at Senior Bowl". Underdog Dynasty. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  15. ^ "Zedrick Woods runs fastest 40 of 2019 NFL Combine". NFL.com. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  16. ^ "2019 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  17. ^ Vautour, Matt (April 27, 2019). "NFL Draft 2019: UMass' Andy Isabella drafted by Arizona Cardinals in second round". masslive.com. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  18. ^ Urban, Darren (April 26, 2019). "Josh Rosen Traded To Dolphins; Cardinals Take Andy Isabella". AZCardinals.com.
  19. ^ "Garoppolo throws 4 TD passes, 49ers beat Cardinals 28-25". ESPN. Associated Press. October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  20. ^ "Andy Isabella 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  21. ^ "Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals - September 27th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  22. ^ Urban, Darren (October 4, 2022). "Cardinals Release Andy Isabella; Sign Center Billy Price". www.azcardinals.com. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  23. ^ Mink, Ryan (October 10, 2022). "Andy Isabella Officially Signed to Ravens Practice Squad". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  24. ^ Comeaux, Jonathan (January 19, 2023). "Ravens Sign WR Andy Isabella to Futures Deal". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  25. ^ Mink, Ryan (July 25, 2023). "Ravens Bring Back Wide Receiver Makai Polk". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  26. ^ Dimmitt, Zach (July 28, 2023). "Bills Sign WR Andy Isabella, Cut Reggie Wayne's Cousin". SI.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  27. ^ White, Alec (August 29, 2023). "Bills announce moves to get to 53-man roster". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  28. ^ White, Alec (August 30, 2023). "Bills sign 14 players to 2023 practice squad". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  29. ^ White, Alec (January 22, 2024). "Bills sign 11 players to Reserve/Futures contracts". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  30. ^ White, Alec (August 27, 2024). "Buffalo Bills made these moves to get to initial 53-man roster | 2024". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  31. ^ Varley, Teresa. "Steelers add to practice squad". steelers.com. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  32. ^ @UFL_PR (October 2, 2024). "The #UFL has announced the following transactions" (Tweet). Retrieved October 3, 2024 – via Twitter.
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