Whipple was familiar with Northeast Ohio – he was the Browns quarterbacks coach in 20. He was 5-foot-9, about 180 pounds, and was mostly a running back in high school, gaining more than 1,000 yards as a senior for the Wildcats and making big plays throughout the season. Isabella wasn’t a typical college prospect at receiver. “We were building the program, and we needed guys with speed. “I had come in the year before,” said UMass coach Mark Whipple, who’s in his second stint at the school, and led UMass to the Division I-AA title in 1998. One FBS coach wasn’t exactly sure about Isabella, but he knew one thing: Isabella was fast enough, and that’s what the coach needed. “But no one really thought I would be good in college.” “That was my dream, to play Division I, and I wanted a chance to prove that,” said Isabella. Plus, his work ethic was off the charts.”įollowing his national record, the countdown to national signing day continued, and Isabella was still waiting for an offer to play on college football’s top level. Andy eventually bought in, and he realized this would help him (in recruiting for football). “Larry Pinto also coached track and he helped, too. “He was really more interested in just working out for football season, but we told him, ‘You can win a state title 60-meter dash,” said Canfield. The reality is UMass might have missed out too had Mayfield track and field coach Steve Canfield not persuaded Isabella to join the Wildcats’ track and field team in time for the indoor season. “UMass got a gift, because Andy could have played anywhere.” “I remember talking to (Mid-American Conference) coaches, and saying, ‘You’re really not going to take this kid?’ ” said Pinto. Despite his national record and solid high school football credentials, Isabella had zero FBS offers with national signing day approaching. Just as interest heated up, that same player said he was coming to Oklahoma State after all.Īir Force also showed interest, but Isabella wasn’t ready to commit to the school’s post-graduate requirements. The Cowboys had an opening in that year’s recruiting class following the de-commitment of a player. Leading that interest was Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, who graduated from Euclid. “I remember it was late in (recruiting) and Oklahoma State showed interest,” said former Mayfield head coach Larry Pinto, who’s now an assistant under Bandiera. One school, however, got everyone’s attention. Those 6.72 seconds clocked as the fastest in the nation that season in the event.Ĭolleges took notice, but recruiters weren’t banging down the door on Wilson Mills Road.
The result was a time of 6.72 seconds by Isabella in the 60-meter dash.
Before he won that honor in the spring of his senior season, Isabella accomplished something the previous winter that turned heads nationwide, and helped land a scholarship offer that changed his life. The problem was his only offer was from FCS Lafayette.Īt Mayfield, he was also an elite track athlete, one who as a senior became the Division I state champion in the 100-meter dash. Almost four years ago, Isabella was a really good high school football player at Mayfield who had dreams of playing at the FBS level.
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