AMERICAN SAMOAN NFL PLAYER ISAAC SOPOAGA BORN
Sopoaga, born in Pago Pago, American Samoa, was raised in the fishing village of Fagasa. He attended Samoana High School in Pago Pago lettering in basketball and baseball, as well as in football, where he was a 2-time All-League selection and, as a senior, was named the League’s Defensive Player of the Year. He also played rugby. Beginning his collegiate career at the College of the Canyons, in his sophomore season (2000) he recorded 31 sacks–a single-season California community college football record. Transferring to the University of Hawaii, he started in both his junior & senior years. Entering the 2004 NFL Draft, Isaac was selected in the 4th round by the San Francisco 49ers. In 2008, the 49ers shifted him from defensive tackle to defensive end and, in 2011, to nose tackle. In Super Bowl XLVII he had 4 combined tackles. Sopoaga played for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013 and New England Patriots in 2014 before ending his career after being released by the Arizona Cardinals in August of 2014.
Source: Wikipedia Photo: Jeffrey Beall, 9/29/2013. Permissive Use.
Indigenous America Calendar 