How OU football's Isaiah Coe went from JUCO standout to breakout candidate for Sooners
NORMAN — When Isaiah Coe takes to the field this upcoming season, he'll be sporting a new tattoo on his right forearm.
"No risk, no reward," reads the text, which surrounds a portrait of Benjamin Franklin's face.
Coe has lived by that mantra throughout his entire college football career.
The redshirt senior defensive tackle began at the junior college level before transferring to OU in 2021. Now in his final year of eligibility, Coe has been rewarded with a prominent role on the Sooners' defense.
"Nobody ever believed that I would get this far," Coe said on Tuesday. "Nobody ever thought that I would be at the University of Oklahoma. So I just have that belief in myself wholeheartedly, and now I'm one of the leaders on the team. That's something that people dream of."
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Rated as a consensus three-star prospect, Coe received numerous Division I offers while at Homewood-Flossmoor High in Flossmoor, Illinois.
Michigan State. Illinois. Iowa State. The list was impressive.
But Coe struggled in the classroom, which led to him not meeting the academic requirement to join any of said programs.
“I didn’t take school as seriously as I needed to at H-F (Homewood-Flossmoor), and I had to face the consequences,” Coe told the Chicago Tribune in 2020. "I was disappointed I couldn’t play at a big college coming out of H-F. I looked at it like I didn’t reach my ultimate goal."
Coe made the best of the situation by committing to Iowa Western Community College in January 2019.
The former high school standout thrived at the junior-college level. He racked up 37 tackles (13 for loss) and 6.5 sacks as a freshman.
Despite getting his sophomore season canceled due to COVID-19, Coe was still ranked by 247Sports as the No. 17 overall junior college prospect. He received offers from programs such as Arkansas, Missouri and Ole Miss.
But Coe committed to OU in June 2020. The Sooners already had one of the better defensive lines in the country with players such as Nik Bonitto, Isaiah Thomas, Perrion Winfrey and Jalen Redmond in the mix.
Still, Coe was willing to take the risk of ending up at the bottom of the depth chart.
"I was all for it," Coe said. "I never lacked self-confidence. I believed in myself. ... Just having that confidence instilled in me that no matter what, whenever I get that chance, I'm going to let the world know who Isaiah Coe is."
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It took Coe a while to carve out a considerable role at OU.
The then-newcomer appeared in 12 games in 2021. He recorded nine tackles (4.5 for loss) and one sack along the way.
But Coe's patience got rewarded last season. Following the departure of Lincoln Riley, OU hired Brent Venables as its next head coach.
The former Clemson defensive coordinator's style of play was a perfect match for Coe, who thrived in the new system. He made six starts and recorded 20 tackles (eight for loss) to go along with two sacks.
"I felt that this scheme fit me more as a player," Coe said. "Being a more power player, being a more physical player and being more dominant, I'm using my strength as an advantage."
Now a redshirt senior, Coe's returning experience is crucial for an OU defensive tackles group that has numerous newcomers in the mix.
The Sooners hit the transfer portal hard this offseason and landed Texas State's Davon Sears, Notre Dame's Jacob Lacey and Tennessee's Da'Jon Terry.
It's a talented group, but it's also one that needs leadership. And Coe has made an effort to fill that role.
"I'm just trying to get out there and be more vocal," Coe said. "Some guys can't just go out there and do the same like you, so you have to be more vocal. You have to encourage people."
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But most of all, Coe plans to lead by example.
The veteran Sooner has been rewarded with an opportunity to shine this season, and he's ready to capitalize.
"I want to be recognized as one of the best in the country because in my heart I believe I am," Coe said. "I know I've worked so hard to get here, but everybody doesn't agree with that. ... They have their opinion.
"I just have to go out there and prove it every single snap that I get the opportunity. I'm well capable of proving it to anybody who wants to question it."
OU defensive tackle depth chart
Name, Class, Ht., Wt., Hometown (Previous school)
The starters
Jordan Kelley, R5Yr., 6-4, 302, Tulsa (Union)
Isaiah Coe, RSr., 6-2, 314, Homewood, Ill. (Iowa Western CC)
The reserves
Jonah Laulu, R5Yr., 6-5, 292, Las Vegas (Hawai'i)
Davon Sears, RSr., 6-2, 287, Detroit (Texas State)
Jacob Lacey, RSr., 6-1, 280, Bowling Green, Ky. (Notre Dame)
Da'Jon Terry, RSr., 6-3, 321, Meridan, Miss. (Tennessee)
Gracen Halton, So., 6-2, 287, San Diego (St. Augustine)
Kelvin Gilliam Jr., RSo., 6-3, 299, Richmond, Va. (Highland Springs)
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: Isaiah Coe is poised for breakout season with Sooners
