Isaac Smolko
Encyclopedia
Isaac Joseph Smolko is an American football
tight end
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers
as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football
at Penn State
.
Smolko has also been a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars
, Baltimore Ravens
and Indianapolis Colts
.
in Kinesiology
in 2006. He played high school football
at Springfield High School
in New Middletown, Ohio
.
rookie
free agent
with the National Football League
's Pittsburgh Steelers
following the 2006 NFL draft
. Despite a productive training camp—including an athletic touchdown catch in Game 1 of the preseason versus the Arizona Cardinals
—Smolko was released at the end of the preseason
.
prior to the 2007 season
. Despite another promising preseason, including a game against the Washington Redskins
where he was used in six positions—tight end, fullback
, linebacker
, defensive end
and two positions on special teams—Smolko was released on September 1, 2007. He spent the first 8 weeks of the 2007 season
on the practice squad
before being activated for the Jaguars' week 9 game against New Orleans
. He was waived and re-signed to the practice squad until his activation prior to the Jaguars' Week 13 game at Indianapolis
. All told, he would see action in 6 games that season.
On June 16, 2008, Smolko was waived by the Jaguars before training camp, only to be re-signed on August 4. after rookie fullback
Anthony Cotrone
was placed on the injured reserve list. He was again released on August 26.
on September 11, 2008. He was released on October 2.
on October 29, 2008. He was released on December 4, only to be re-signed on December 10. He was re-signed to a one year future contract at the conclusion of the 2008 season
.
He was released on September 5 and re-signed to the practice squad. After the Ravens signed tight end Davon Drew
to the practice squad he was released on September 15.
' practice squad on January 6, 2010. He was released on January 27.
, during the Jaguars 2007 training camp. The nickname received widespread exposure when head coach Jack Del Rio
erroneously referred to Smolko as Ivan during his postgame press conference following the preseason finale. Jaguars.com senior editor Vic Ketchman has taken to calling him "Ivan 'Don't Call Me Isaac' Smolko" on the team's website.
Smolko and his wife Katie reside in New Springfield, Ohio where he grew up with his father Joseph "Buckey" Smolko and mother Marie, as well as sisters Lori and Carrie.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
.
Smolko has also been a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
and Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
.
College career
Smolko was a four-year letterman at Penn State University where he earned a Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Kinesiology
Kinesiology
Kinesiology, also known as human kinetics is the scientific study of human movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, mechanical, and psychological mechanisms. Applications of kinesiology to human health include: biomechanics and orthopedics, rehabilitation, such as physical and occupational...
in 2006. He played high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at Springfield High School
Springfield High School (New Middletown, Ohio)
Springfield High School is a public high school in New Middletown, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Springfield Local School District.-External links:*...
in New Middletown, Ohio
New Middletown, Ohio
New Middletown is a village in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,682 at the 2000 census. New Middletown is served by a branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County...
.
Pittsburgh Steelers
He signed as an undraftedUndrafted
An undrafted sportsperson or undrafted free agent is specific type of sportsperson who plays, or attempts to play, in a professional sports league without first being selected in a draft....
rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
following the 2006 NFL draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. Despite a productive training camp—including an athletic touchdown catch in Game 1 of the preseason versus the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
—Smolko was released at the end of the preseason
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
.
Jacksonville Jaguars
He signed with the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
prior to the 2007 season
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
. Despite another promising preseason, including a game against the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
where he was used in six positions—tight end, fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
, linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
and two positions on special teams—Smolko was released on September 1, 2007. He spent the first 8 weeks of the 2007 season
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
on the practice squad
Scout team
In sports, the scout team, also referred to as a practice team, taxi squad, practice squad or practice roster, is a group of players on a team whose task is to emulate future opponents for the featured players. Frequently used in American or Canadian Football, these teams consist of less...
before being activated for the Jaguars' week 9 game against New Orleans
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. He was waived and re-signed to the practice squad until his activation prior to the Jaguars' Week 13 game at Indianapolis
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. All told, he would see action in 6 games that season.
On June 16, 2008, Smolko was waived by the Jaguars before training camp, only to be re-signed on August 4. after rookie fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Anthony Cotrone
Anthony Cotrone
Anthony Cotrone is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Maine....
was placed on the injured reserve list. He was again released on August 26.
First stint with Colts
Smolko was signed to the practice squad of the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
on September 11, 2008. He was released on October 2.
Baltimore Ravens
Smolko was signed to the practice squad of the Baltimore RavensBaltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
on October 29, 2008. He was released on December 4, only to be re-signed on December 10. He was re-signed to a one year future contract at the conclusion of the 2008 season
2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the...
.
He was released on September 5 and re-signed to the practice squad. After the Ravens signed tight end Davon Drew
Davon Drew
Davon Anthony Drew is an American football tight end for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
to the practice squad he was released on September 15.
Second stint with Colts
Smolko was re-signed to the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
' practice squad on January 6, 2010. He was released on January 27.
Personal
Smolko was given the name "Ivan" by his position coach, Mike TiceMike Tice
Michael Peter Tice is an American football National Football League coach, best known as the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He is currently the offensive line coach for the Chicago Bears.-Playing career:...
, during the Jaguars 2007 training camp. The nickname received widespread exposure when head coach Jack Del Rio
Jack Del Rio
Jack Del Rio is an American football coach and former player. Del Rio played both football and baseball for the University of Southern California Trojans, and then spent eleven years playing linebacker in the National Football League . He retired from playing in 1996 and went into coaching,...
erroneously referred to Smolko as Ivan during his postgame press conference following the preseason finale. Jaguars.com senior editor Vic Ketchman has taken to calling him "Ivan 'Don't Call Me Isaac' Smolko" on the team's website.
Smolko and his wife Katie reside in New Springfield, Ohio where he grew up with his father Joseph "Buckey" Smolko and mother Marie, as well as sisters Lori and Carrie.