Andy Isabella was one pick shy of making history, but the mild-mannered receiver won’t mind too much.
The Arizona Cardinals drafted the UMass wideout in the second round with the 62nd overall selection of the 2019 NFL Draft on Friday, one spot after Vladimir Ducasse was selected by the New York Jets in 2010. The two are the highest-drafted UMass players since Greg Landry went in the first round back in 1968.
Those who attended UMass’ pro day in March were not surprised Isabella ended up with the Cardinals, who acquired the 62nd pick by trading quarterback Josh Rosen to the Miami Dolphins. Arizona was one of the few teams that had a private workout with Isabella in Amherst that day and had several high-ranking coaches and scouts in attendance. Isabella spent the most time with the Cardinals that day among those who had individual side sessions with the Mayfield, Ohio, native.
Isabella was on the draft radar entering the season and most teams inquired about him while doing preseason visits last August. But he skyrocketed up draft boards with a sensational senior year in which he led the country with a UMass-record 1,698 yards receiving, including 219 on 15 catches against No. 5 Georgia in his final college game.
He continued to cement his rising stock once he was invited to play in the Senior Bowl in January and worked out at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. He went to Mobile, Alabama, and was the MVP for the North team at the Senior Bowl before running a 4.31-second 40-yard dash at the combine to tie for the fastest of the event.
He is the first UMass player since receiver Tajae Sharpe in 2016 to be drafted and just the fourth to be drafted since the Minutemen moved up to FBS. He is also the third UMass player coached by Mark Whipple to be selected joining Sharpe and 1999 fifth-rounder Khari Samuel.