Isaac Sopoaga life and biography

Isaac Sopoaga has been a key component of the 49ers defensive line rotation since being drafted in the 4th-round of the 2004 NFL Draft. His size and athleticism make him an ideal fit for the 49ers 3-4 scheme. Sopoaga set career highs in 2009 with 16 starts and 69 tackles. Widely considered one of the strongest players on the team, he is one of three 49ers (Moran Norris and Tony Wragge) who work out with 200-pound dumbbells.

TRANSACTIONS:
Originally the first of two fourth-round (104th pick overall) draft choices by SF in 2004.

•Growing up in American Samoa, Isaac’s first sport was rugby. Part of his conditioning routine was to strengthen his arms by lifting bags filled with coconuts and logs from chopped down trees. The leg workout was also geo­graphically geared. Said Isaac, “Have you ever seen a 325-pound guy climb a coconut tree?”

2009:
•Registered a career-high 69 tackles.
•Helped hold the Cardinals to 40 yds. rushing on 17 carries (2.4 ypc.) at Arz. (9/13), tallying 4 tackles to go along with 1 PD.
•Registered 7 tackles at Min. (9/27).
•Sacked QB Peyton Manning at Ind. (11/1).

2008:
•Tallied 66 tackles.
•Had 1 PD and a season-high 6 tackles at NO (9/28).
•Registered 5 tackles and 1 sack vs. NE (10/5).

2007:
•Started vs. Sea. (9/30) in nickel set, and vs. StL (11/18), at Arz. (11/25) and at Car. (12/2) in place of an injured DT Aubrayo Franklin (calf) at nose tackle.
•Started at defensive tackle in a 4-3 alignment vs. Min. (12/9) and tallied 4 tackles.

2006:
•Saw action along defensive line vs. StL (9/17), recording 3 tackles and recovering a fumble on Rams’ 17-yd. line in 4th qtr. when teammate DE Marques Douglas sacked QB Marc Bulger. Fumble recovery yielded 4th-qtr. FG to put 49ers ahead 20-13.
•Posted 3 tackles and first career solo sack at Sea. (12/14), taking down QB Matt Hasselbeck in 3rd qtr. to force a Seattle punt.
•Made first start of season vs. Arz. (12/24) in place of DT Ron Fields (arm) and recorded a career-high 8 tackles.
•Started 2nd consecutive game at Den. (12/31) and posted 3 tackles.

2005:
•Recorded 3 tackles and 1 FF vs. Ind. (10/9).
•Made first career NFL start at Ten. (11/27) when DT Anthony Adams was moved from nose tackle to left end in place of injured DE Bryant Young (knee), and responded by recording 3 tackles.

2004:
•Spent 2004 on IR due to a back injury suffered in training camp.

COLLEGE

•Mainstay on defensive line last 2 seasons at Hawaii, posting 128 tackles, 2 FRs, 2 FFs and 3 PDs in 25 games with Warriors. First-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection in 2003 and second-team All-WAC choice in 2002. Played 2 years (1999-2000) at College of the Canyons (Santa Clarita, CA), where he was a two-time All-America selection for Cougars as team won Western State Conference Championship both years. Named National Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-State as a sophomore in 2001. Recorded national record 31 sacks as freshman in 2000.

PERSONAL

•Prepped at Samoana (Pago Pago, American Samoa) HS, where he lettered twice in football and basketball, and once in baseball.
•Named League’s Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team all-league honors as a senior. Also earned first-team all-league honors and was a member of League championship team as a junior.
•Born Isaac Sopoaga (9/4/81) in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
•Majored in general studies.

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