Jordan HammPhoto Courtesy: Isaiah Oliver
Isaiah Oliver went from Brophy College Prep to the University of Colorado to the Atlanta Falcons.
After being selected in the second round by the NFC South champions, Oliver could finally let out a sigh.
“It was just overwhelming excitement when you hear your name called and get that phone call,” the defensive back said a few days after being selected.
Beyond excited! Let’s go Falcons!!#RiseUp #InBrotherhood
— Isaiah Oliver (@_isaiah_oliver_) April 28, 2018
The second-round selection now will go against the likes of Drew Brees, Cam Newton and Jameis Winston twice each year. He feels he can get prepped for some prominent passing games…by going up against his now-teammates.
“Obviously, being able to go against (Julio Jones), Mohammed Sanu and obviously Calvin Ridley, who they just drafted, three receivers that are really good. Being able to go against those guys in practice is only going to prepare me more for game day. I’m looking forward to going against some of the best in the business.”
Oliver’s athleticism was apparent as a high school student-athlete playing under Scooter Molander. He said playing for the coach helped him prepare for all that comes college football and the NFL, both on and off the field.
“Growing as a man, really, was what Coach Molander did best for us,” Oliver said. “I feel like as Brophy students, they’re just preparing you for college and life after that, just really how to carry yourself off the field was one of the biggest things that he preached. That was big for me, and I feel like that helped me a lot.”
Oliver joined Cardinals second-round selection Christian Kirk and Ravens third-round pick Mark Andrews as former Arizona prep stars who were selected on Day 2 of this year’s NFL Draft. He’s seen firsthand how the state of Arizona has seen its football profile continues to grow at the prep level.
“It’s really time for people to realize that,” Oliver said. “Especially in high school football, we compete with some of the best states out there year in and year out. You see the top (Arizona) schools can go anywhere in the nation and compete against those guys.”
Oliver reports to Falcons camp on May 10th.
