Draft 2004: Beware NFL, the 'Ice' man cometh

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Isa'ako Sopoaga is a 316-pound lineman who can bench press 500 pounds. "He can do things physically that make you go, 'Wow,'" says a coach. Advertiser library photo Isa'ako Sopoaga Position: Defensive tackle Height: 6-2 1/2 Weight: 316 40 time: 4.95 seconds 225-pound bench: 42 repetitions Vertical jump: 30 1/2 inches Honors: All-Western Athletic Conference first team in 2003; All-WAC second team in 2002; two-time All-American in junior college. Fun fact: He is a featured dancer for the UH Polynesian Club. ON TV Saturday (HST): 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., ESPN 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., ESPN2 Sunday: 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., ESPN 7 a.m. to noon, ESPN2

He was referred to as "Isaak" at the College of the Canyons in California and "Isaac" at UH, but he prefers his birthname of Isa'ako. As for his nickname, "Ice" is not an abbreviation of his first name. His high school teammates in American Samoa gave him the nickname because his jarring tackles would "freeze" ballcarriers.

"People don't know a lot about me," Sopoaga said.

NFL scouts, in particular, have had to take a crash course. Although he was the anchor of the Warriors' defensive line for two seasons, Sopoaga is trying to fully comprehend a sport he first played as a Samoana High senior. For this weekend's NFL draft, teams are weighing Sopoaga's relative inexperience against his potential. He is projected to be selected in the first three rounds.

"He's extremely raw," said Vantz Singletary, who coaches the UH defensive linemen. "But he's a diamond in the rough. He can do things physically that make you go, 'Wow.' "

At the NFL combine in Indianapolis last month, Sopoaga ran 40 yards in 4.95 seconds, an outrageously fast time for a 316-pound lineman. He also bench pressed 225 pounds 42 times. The combine record is 45.

"Someone told me it was 41," Sopoaga recalled. "Forty-one was the only number on my mind. When I got to 42, I stopped. I wasn't close to being tired. I could have done eight or nine more."

A week later at UH, with only strength coach Mel deLaura and a spotter as witnesses, Sopoaga benched 225 pounds 52 times. "I don't care about the record," he said. "I know what I can do."

The scouts also see the possibilities. The highlight tapes show that Sopoaga, even against tandem blocks, is difficult to move. But while Sopoaga's ability to absorb blocks opens the way for teammates, he is inconsistent in seeking ballcarriers.

Last month, San Francisco 49ers scouts told Sopoaga he needed to work on getting "separation" — shedding blocks — and then making tackles.

"They gave him some good pointers," said Jim Higgins, a former UH player who serves as Sopoaga's adviser. "It was a matter of using his hands to get separation. He's worked hard on doing that."

Part of the solution was to lose weight. A knee injury and a high-carb appetite kept Sopoaga's weight at 335 last season. Agent Ken Zuckerman assigned Sopoaga to the Athletes Performance Clinic in Tempe, Ariz. The staff gave Sopoaga a strict meal plan and instructions to improving strength and quickness.

Including meals, car rental and lodging, the cost of the eight-week, out-patient program was about $25,000 — a tab picked up by Zuckerman's agency. "It was worth it," said Zuckerman, who does not forward the bill to his clients.

Sopoaga lost 19 pounds while maintaining his strength. He can bench press a maximum 500 pounds.

"I have to watch what I eat," he said. "No more rice, fast food and stuff. I still eat taro. I've got to eat taro. To me, eating taro is like spending money."

Zuckerman said: "He looks good. He's lighter, quicker and stronger. He's so quick and athletic. He can play anywhere on the interior part of the line. He can be effective on the nose or in the gap. He can do anything he wants to do."

That was apparent to Samoana High's head football coach in 1998. Needing a running back for short-yardage situations, Moamoa Vaeao sought one of the campus' best rugby players.

"The coach talked to my dad and he said, 'OK, give it a try,' " Sopoaga recalled.

Early in his senior season, Sopoaga was moved to the defensive line. And that should have been that.

"I wasn't thinking about going to college to play football," Sopoaga said. His father, who retired as manager of the Samoan Power Company, was growing taro, bananas and breadfruit on the family farm. "I wanted to work there and take care of my parents," he said.

Sopoaga did not even take the SAT — a decision that proved costly when the UH coaches tried to recruit him shortly after his high school graduation.

Without an SAT score, he was not eligible to enroll at UH, even as a non-qualifier. UH coaches promised to recruit Sopoaga after he earned an associate degree from a junior college.

Dr. Richard Ripley then encouraged his nephew to enroll at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif. After amassing 31 sacks as a sophomore, Sopoaga drew interest from several colleges. But he decided to honor his commitment to UH.

Now he's waiting to see if his UH training will earn him an NFL job. "I'm getting excited," said Sopoaga, who recently purchased a Cadillac Escalade equipped with a DVD player. "I'm enjoying life."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.