Indiana University Athletics
Hoosier Pre-NFL Draft Q&A - Ben Ishola
4/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 27, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - With the NFL Draft scheduled for April 29-30, IUHOOSIERS.com will sit down with several of IU's pro prospects to talk about the draft process and what they have been doing to prepare for a professional career. Defensive end Ben Ishola recently took time to share his experiences.
Ishola started all 11 games of his senior season. He opened the year with five tackles at Central Michigan and followed that with a career-high six stops against Nicholls State. The Berlin, Germany native closed the year with 27 total tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss.
Ishola played in 10 contests for the Hoosiers in 2004 and was a huge part in IU's win at then-No. 24 Oregon as he registered two sacks. He posted a season-high five tackles, all solo, against Michigan State and had a pair of solo tackles versus then-No. 23 Minnesota. Ishola finished the year with 12 solo tackles and two assists. Additionally, he appeared in all 12 games in 2003, recording a pair of tackles on the season in addition to a quarterback sack against Illinois.
What have you been doing since pro scout day?
BI: I've been working out a lot and continuing to lift and run. I still am working on finishing up school, so that has been a main concentration of mine.
What teams have you been working out for?
BI: I have worked out for several teams including the Browns, Lions, Bengals and Bears. I also have visited with a few teams. I have been pretty busy. I would be happy to be drafted by any team, but maybe more by a team that is somewhere warm.
What feedback have you received from your agent and scouts?
BI: I have got mostly positive feedback. You can never really tell where you will get drafted or if you will get drafted at all, but the scouts like my versatility. Most teams think I can play different positions. Some think I would fit best as an outside linebacker, while others think I would make a good defensive end in the pros. I think my versatility is the thing the pro scouts like most about me.
What one piece of advice would you give someone who will be going through this process next year?
BI: I would tell the guys who are going to go though this next year to keep working hard, lifting, running and watching film. Even if you don't get drafted, you can still end up on a pro team as a free agent and will have to fight for a spot on the team at training camp. You can't let down.
