Isaac Sopoaga is an American football nose tackle and occasional fullback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the 49ers in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii. Sopoaga attended Samoana High School in Pago Pago, American Samoa and was a letterman in football, basketball, and baseball. In football, he was a two-time All-League selection and as a senior, he was named the League's Defensive Player of the Year. He played rugby league growing up in Samoa. Isaac also attributes his strong throwing arm,... reportedly being able to throw the ball 78 yards flat footed, to throwing 1-2 pound rocks at coconuts up to 70 feet high hanging from the trees. He would eventually develop enough strength and accuracy to knock down five or six coconuts in a matter of five minutes according to his own account. He performed 42 bench-press repetitions of 225 pounds. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 4th round in the 2004 NFL Draft. Sopoaga missed the entire 2004 season with an injury. In 2008, the 49ers have stated that they will use Sopoaga as a defensive end.
more