(Photo: Chad Ryan)
Sacks, quarterback hurries, forced fumbles, blocked punts. One of the first words that comes to mind when thinking of Isaiah Foskey is: DISRUPTIVE.
A 6-5, 265 lb mountain of a man with speed, and agility, Isaiah Foskey came to ND in 2019 out of powerhouse De La Salle High School in California. He went on to a record setting career in South Bend.
Foskey only saw action in three games as a freshman, but he then showed signs of great things to come his sophomore year as the Irish ran to a undefeated regular season. Playing in all 12 games he notched five QB hurries and 4.5 sacks, second best on the team. Against Pittsburgh that season, he blocked a punt and then scooped it up, and scored.
By his junior year Foskey was garnering attention on the national scene and went on to more than earn it. He made big plays week after week. 11 sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 12.5 tackles for loss 17 quarterback hurries. The 11 sacks was the third-most ever in a Notre Dame season.
Foskey’s junior season had been so good that it looked like he was likely to head for the NFL early. But in a surprise move he decided to come back for Marcus Freeman’s first full season, try to improve his draft standing and make a run at the Notre Dame career sack record held by Justin Tuck at 24.5. Foskey’s total stood at 15.5.
A lot was riding on his senior season.
Elected as team captain, in the sack department he started the season a bit slow. Through six games he had natched just 3 sacks and needed a strong second half to the season to get to the record. His breakout started against UNLV. In that game he notched three sacks, in one game doubling his total from the first half season. In the game he also became the first ND player ever to block two punts in a game.
The next two games against Syracuse and clemson, he moved within a half sack of the record with 2.5 more. Justin Tuck’s record then went down against Boston College with a sack late in the second quarter, fittingly on Senior Day.
Foskey extended the career record to 26.5 with another 1.5 in the regular season finale at USC.
For his record setting senior season, Isiah Foskey was a consensus first team all-American.
Foskey was drafted in the second round of the 2023 draft, 40th overall by and is now a member of the New Orleans Saints .
Isaiah Foskey, ND 2019-2022, another Fighting Irish Preview All-Time Irish Hero.