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University of Minnesota Athletics
Player Profile: Strong Safety Justin Isom
10/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Over his four years of experience in collegiate football, Isom has become one of the top strong safeties in the Big Ten and one of the most consistent performers on the Golden Gophers' defense. He has tallied six interceptions and 13 pass breakups while registering 157 total tackles in his career. Isom credits his success in keeping other defenses cold in his drive to improve and constant tweaking of football fundamentals.
"The goal of a defensive back is all in the technique," he said. "Individually, I want to stay low and always be in my stance in front of a receiver. It's all about the fundamentals, and I am always working on them."
Isom admits that while the overall Minnesota defensive philosophy is to stop the run, he takes care of the other side of the offense in focusing on the passing game. He has become a pest to other Big Ten receivers, doing whatever he can to chill the offense and make sure the ball doesn't connect with the quarterback's desired target. Isom applies his previous experience at cornerback to his drive to get in the way of opposing offenses.
"While I play the position of strong safety, I think I'm more like a corner, which is what I came to Minnesota as," he remarked." I pride myself on my passing game defense. I love to get in there and have pass breakups and interceptions. That is my main focus."
Isom may stress fundamentals of the game for his defensive success, but he also makes sure he is prepared every week for the opponents offense by putting in long hours in the video room. There, he studies and analyzes rolls of film on every team the Gophers face, trying to find the most effective way to keep their offenses cold.
"Going into the games, I watch a lot of film," Isom said. "I want to know their tendencies, routes and cuts. When trying to break up a pass or go for an interception, it's about staying low, keeping an eye on the receiver. I also watch the coverage of the linebackers to see if the offenses are trying fighting to go one way or another."
The Ice Man is looking to apply his cool abilities off the field too. Isom is one of seven seniors who has already completed his undergraduate degree, earning a degree in sports studies. While he currently studying for his graduate degree in sports management from the University of Minnesota, he wants to take his education even further and go into corporate law. Isom is set to take the LSAT in February and is interested in being right in the middle of the plays again, but this time as a lawyer dealing with mergers and acquisitions. He believes everything he has experienced on the football field will help him remain his cool self at the negotiation table.
"Football has definitely taught me things that I can carry with me. It teaches discipline, endurance and focus. Football has taught me that a competitive edge is always a plus."
Written by Media Relations Student Assistant Courtney Walerius. She welcomes comments at gophers@umn.edu.
They call Justin Isom the "Ice Man." His job is to keep opposing offenses cold. By getting in the way of their passing game through pass breakups and interceptions, the Ice Man's main objective is to not allow the opponent's offense to heat up. "I want to shut them down," Isom said.
Over his four years of experience in collegiate football, Isom has become one of the top strong safeties in the Big Ten and one of the most consistent performers on the Golden Gophers' defense. He has tallied six interceptions and 13 pass breakups while registering 157 total tackles in his career. Isom credits his success in keeping other defenses cold in his drive to improve and constant tweaking of football fundamentals.
"The goal of a defensive back is all in the technique," he said. "Individually, I want to stay low and always be in my stance in front of a receiver. It's all about the fundamentals, and I am always working on them."
Isom admits that while the overall Minnesota defensive philosophy is to stop the run, he takes care of the other side of the offense in focusing on the passing game. He has become a pest to other Big Ten receivers, doing whatever he can to chill the offense and make sure the ball doesn't connect with the quarterback's desired target. Isom applies his previous experience at cornerback to his drive to get in the way of opposing offenses.
"While I play the position of strong safety, I think I'm more like a corner, which is what I came to Minnesota as," he remarked." I pride myself on my passing game defense. I love to get in there and have pass breakups and interceptions. That is my main focus."
Isom may stress fundamentals of the game for his defensive success, but he also makes sure he is prepared every week for the opponents offense by putting in long hours in the video room. There, he studies and analyzes rolls of film on every team the Gophers face, trying to find the most effective way to keep their offenses cold.
"Going into the games, I watch a lot of film," Isom said. "I want to know their tendencies, routes and cuts. When trying to break up a pass or go for an interception, it's about staying low, keeping an eye on the receiver. I also watch the coverage of the linebackers to see if the offenses are trying fighting to go one way or another."
The Ice Man is looking to apply his cool abilities off the field too. Isom is one of seven seniors who has already completed his undergraduate degree, earning a degree in sports studies. While he currently studying for his graduate degree in sports management from the University of Minnesota, he wants to take his education even further and go into corporate law. Isom is set to take the LSAT in February and is interested in being right in the middle of the plays again, but this time as a lawyer dealing with mergers and acquisitions. He believes everything he has experienced on the football field will help him remain his cool self at the negotiation table.
"Football has definitely taught me things that I can carry with me. It teaches discipline, endurance and focus. Football has taught me that a competitive edge is always a plus."
Written by Media Relations Student Assistant Courtney Walerius. She welcomes comments at gophers@umn.edu.
