Isaiah Pola-Mao

Last updated

Isaiah Pola-Mao
No. 20 – Las Vegas Raiders
Position: Safety
Personal information
Born: (1999-06-30) June 30, 1999 (age 25)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school: Mountain Pointe (AZ)
College: USC (2017–2021)
Undrafted: 2022
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:40
Sacks:2.0
Pass deflections:1
Interceptions:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Isaiah Pola-Mao (born June 30, 1999) is an American professional football safety for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC and was signed by the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

Contents

Early life and education

Pola-Mao was born on June 30, 1999, in Phoenix, Arizona. [1] He attended Mountain Pointe High School, where he played football, basketball, and track. [2] As a sophomore in football, Pola-Mao was named first-team USA Today All-Arizona after recording 35 tackles and seven interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. In his junior year, he again earned first-team All-Arizona honors, posting 98 tackles and four interceptions on defense while making 27 pass receptions on offense. As a senior, Pola-Mao was named a PrepStar All-American, Max Preps first-team All-America, USA Today All-Arizona and the All-East Valley Tribune Defensive Player of the Year after recording 100 tackles and 10 interceptions. He returned three picks for scores and registered 646 receiving yards on 28 catches, scoring nine touchdowns offensively. [3]

In January 2017, Pola-Mao announced his commitment to USC. [4] He redshirted as a freshman after having season-ending shoulder surgery in training camp. As a redshirt-freshman the following year, he started the first two games before re-injuring his shoulder, ending his season. He recorded eight tackles and a forced fumble in the games in which he appeared. [3]

As a sophomore in 2019, Pola-Mao was the starting USC free safety, recording 73 tackles and a team-high four interceptions in 13 games played. He made interceptions in three consecutive games, becoming the first USC player in over 20 years to have this accomplishment. At the end of the year, Pola-Mao was named the USC co-Defensive Perimeter Player of the Year. [3]

As a junior in 2020, Pola-Mao started at free safety and appeared in all six games during a COVID-19-shortened season. He was team captain and made 40 tackles, 2.5 for-loss, as well as a team-leading five passes defended, team-leading three fumbles recovered and one interception. He was named second-team All-Pac-12 Conference by Associated Press (AP) and a third-team choice by Pro Football Focus. [3]

Pola-Mao announced his return for a final season in 2021. [5] He started at free safety during the year, playing in 11 games, nine as a starter, and making 57 tackles, placing third on the team. He also made a pass deflection and recorded a fumble recovered. He was co-team captain during the season. Pola-Mao finished his college career with 178 tackles, five interceptions, eight passes defended, four fumbles recovered and one forced in 32 games played. [3]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 3+1⁄2 in
(1.92 m)		212 lb
(96 kg)		32+1⁄2 in
(0.83 m)		8+1⁄2 in
(0.22 m)		4.51 s1.58 s2.59 s4.34 s6.87 s31.0 in
(0.79 m)		10 ft 6 in
(3.20 m)
All values from Pro Day [6] [7]

After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Pola-Mao was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent. [8] He was one of four undrafted rookies to make the Raiders' final roster. [9] He was waived on September 29, after appearing in two games. [10] [11] He was re-signed to the practice squad on October 1. The Raiders promoted him to the active roster on November 9. [12]

Personal life

Pola-Mao is the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu. [3]

Related Research Articles

Isaiah "Mike" Caldwell, Jr. is an American football coach who is the linebackers coach & run game coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2022 to 2023. After the entire Jacksonville defensive staff was fired in early 2024, he joined the Las Vegas Raiders as their linebackers coach and run game coordinator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandler Jones</span> American football player (born 1990)

Chandler James Jones is an American professional football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football for the Syracuse Orange and was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft. He has also played for the Arizona Cardinals and the Las Vegas Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nickell Robey-Coleman</span> American football player (born 1992)

Nickell Earl Robey-Coleman is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2013 after playing college football at USC. Robey-Coleman has also played for the Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions and Las Vegas Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Heath (American football)</span> American football player (born 1991)

Jeff Heath is a former American football safety. He played college football at Saginaw Valley State University. Heath signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He also played for the Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Sorensen</span> American football player (born 1990)

Daniel Sorensen is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at BYU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Kwiatkoski</span> American football player (born 1993)

Nick Kwiatkoski is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at West Virginia. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cory Littleton</span> American football player (born 1993)

Cory Littleton is an American professional football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football for the Washington Huskies. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthias Farley</span> American football player (born 1992)

Matthias Farley is an American football free safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Notre Dame. Farley was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He has also played for the Indianapolis Colts, the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Epps (American football)</span> American football player (born 1996)

Marcus Epps is an American professional football safety for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wyoming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaiah Simmons</span> American football player (born 1998)

Isaiah Simmons is an American professional football safety for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Clemson Tigers and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals eighth overall in the 2020 NFL draft. While at Clemson, Simmons was noted for his positional versatility as he played linebacker, defensive end, cornerback and safety.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roderic Teamer</span> American football player (born 1997)

Roderic Fitzgerald Teamer Jr. is an American professional football safety for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He was previously part of the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders, and played college football at Tulane.

Bobby Miguel Price is an American professional football cornerback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Norfolk State Spartans and signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Price has also played for the Arizona Cardinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jalen Elliott</span> American football player (born 1998)

Jalen Elliott is an American professional football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Notre Dame. He previously played for the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots and the Las Vegas Raiders.

Jack Jones is an American professional football cornerback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC and Moorpark College before transferring to Arizona State and was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reed Blankenship</span> American football player (born 1999)

Reed Scott Blankenship is an American professional football safety for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent after the 2022 NFL draft.

Zach VanValkenburg is an American professional football linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Hillsdale before transferring to Iowa and was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

Nephi Sewell is an American Samoan professional football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Nevada and Utah and was signed by the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raheem Layne</span> American football player (born 1999)

Raheem Layne is an American professional football safety for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Indiana and was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

Jaydon DeVon Grant is an American professional football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Oregon State.

Kana'i Mauga is an American professional football linebacker for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans and was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

References

  1. ↑ "Isaiah Pola-Mao". ESPN.com . Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  2. ↑ Sorensen, Eric (April 28, 2022). "Zone Read: Isaiah Pola-Mao Unplugged". Sports 360 AZ. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Isaiah Pola-Mao - Football - USC Athletics". usctrojans.com. USC Trojans.
  4. ↑ Thiry, Lindsey (January 27, 2017). "Defensive back Isaiah Pola-Mao announces commitment to USC". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  5. ↑ Kartje, Ryan (January 22, 2021). "Safety Isaiah Pola-Mao will return to USC for his final season". The Los Angeles Times . Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  6. ↑ "2022 NFL Draft Scout Isaiah Pola-Mao College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Isaiah Pola-Mao 2022 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  8. ↑ Wadleigh, Matt (May 2, 2022). "Isaiah Pola-Mao joins the Raiders, agrees to UDFA deal". USA Today . Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  9. ↑ Trevino, Chris (August 30, 2021). "Former USC safety Isaiah Pola-Mao makes Las Vegas Raiders 53-man roster as UDFA". 247Sports . Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  10. ↑ Damien, Levi (September 29, 2022). "Raiders sign S Matthias Farley off practice squad, waive S Isaiah Pola-Mao". USA Today . Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Isaiah Pola-Mao Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  12. ↑ Williams, Charean (November 9, 2022). "Raiders sign Isaiah Pola-Mao to active roster". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.