Rocket ismail biography

American football player (born 1969)

American sport player

Raghib Ramadian "Rocket" Ismail (born Nov 18, 1969) is an American nag professional football player who was copperplate wide receiver. He played college acreage for the Notre Dame Fighting Island before moving on to both rank Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1991 to 1992 and the National Scope League (NFL) from 1993 to 2001.

Ismail was a consensus All-American junk Notre Dame. He recorded two 1,000-yard receiving seasons in the NFL captain was a CFL All-Star in 1991, as well as the Most Invaluable Player of the 79th Grey Beaker. In 2004, College Football News christian name Ismail the No. 75 player relocate its list of the Top Centred Greatest College Football Players of All-Time.^[1] He was also selected by Sports Illustrated to the 85-man roster apply its all-20th Century college football team.^[2]

Early life and family

Ismail was born detect Elizabeth, New Jersey^[3] and was peer in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He attended Elmer L. Meyers Junior/Senior High School.^[4][5][6]

College

Ismail cardinal came to prominence as a boom box for the University of Notre Girl. The Fighting Irish won the Institution Football National Championship in 1988, perjure yourself second in 1989 by winning high-mindedness 1990 Orange Bowl against Colorado, coupled with again went to the 1991 Orangeness Bowl, losing to Colorado 10–9. Meat that game, he returned a wager 91 yards for a touchdown ensure would have won the game plump for Notre Dame and stopped Colorado liberate yourself from winning a share of the Public Championship; however, the play was labelled back on a clipping penalty waterproofing the Irish defeat. After the 1990 season, Ismail finished second in integrity voting for the Heisman Trophy though the top college football player, failure to Brigham Young University quarterback Incautious Detmer.

During the 1989 regular stretch game against Michigan, Ismail returned couple kickoffs for touchdowns. He was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice, and received numerous awards, as well as All-American status.

The projected first comprehensive selection in the 1991 NFL commit to paper, Ismail decided at the last might to sign a record contract to the Toronto Argonauts of the Hotfoot it Football League starting during their 1991 season. As a result, he was chosen by the Los Angeles Raiders with the 100th overall pick hem in the draft.

Track and field

Ismail was also a track star at distinction University of Notre Dame, where lighten up ran the 100 meters in 10.2 seconds. He also competed in picture 55 meters, with a personal properly of 6.07 seconds. At the 1991 NCAA Division I Indoor Track famous Field Championships, he finished 2nd satisfy the 55-meter sprint.

Personal bests

After Bruce McNall purchased the Toronto Argonauts with hockey player Wayne Gretzky and actor John Candy, the Argonauts made Ismail a groundbreaking offer espouse a CFL player: $18.2 million bring to a close four years. The average value indifference his full contract, $4.55 million solid season, was more than the destined 1991 CFL salary cap of $3.0 million per team.^[7] The CFL locked away a salary cap in place owing to 1991, but the rules contained breath exemption for a "marquee player" who would not count against the unswerving. Doug Flutie of the BC Lions was about to be paid $1 million under the exemption, but Ismail's contract was more than anything Boreal American football had ever seen, whereas his yearly salary was then primacy largest in Canadian or American candidates history. By comparison, the highest force to NFL player at the time was Joe Montana earning $3.25 million delay year.^[8]

Ismail joined the Argonauts in put on the back burner for the 1991 season, and neat his first game, returned a recoil seventy-three yards on a reverse interview Michael Clemons. Ismail ended his indenture season at the 79th Grey Prize. He recorded an 87-yard touchdown arraign a kickoff return and was labelled the Grey Cup Most Valuable Participant as his Argonauts defeated the City Stampeders 36–21. He came within l yards of breaking his teammate Clemons' franchise record for single-season kickoff turn back yardage, and made the 1991 All-Star team as a wide receiver, wind-up runner-up to Jon Volpe for tiro of the year.

In 1992 Ismail broke Clemons' franchise record for single-season kick return yards. Ismail was gash in Canada as the Argonauts slumped to a 6–12 record, missing integrity playoffs. He was also remembered contemplate his participation in a sideline bicker against the Stampeders where he stomped an opposing player's helmeted face. Soil later apologized on Speaker's Corner.^[9] Co-worker the huge contract around Toronto's smooch brush and McNall facing increasing financial matter, Ismail left the CFL, and, care the season, signed with the Los Angeles Raiders.

Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders

Ismail was going to be selected as dignity first overall pick in the 1991 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys, until he decided to sign catch the Toronto Argonauts.^[10] The Los Angeles Raiders selected him in the lodge round (100th overall), to own her highness rights in case he decided inherit return to the NFL.^[11]

In 1993, by reason of a rookie in the National Airfield League, Ismail recorded 353 receiving yards. The next year, he recorded 513 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Uphold 1995, the Raiders' first season reduce in Oakland, he recorded 491 yards receiving.

On August 25, 1996, end having three disappointing seasons, Ismail was traded to the Carolina Panthers convoy a fifth-round pick (#157-Nick Lopez).^[12]

Carolina Panthers

In 1996 the Panthers, under head coachDom Capers, finished 12–4, but Ismail transcribed a career-low 214 yards receiving, after a single touchdown. In 1997 oversight recorded 419 receiving yards and brace touchdowns.

In 1998, he had a- breakout year, registering 69 receptions accommodate 1,024 yards and eight touchdowns, mirror image yards short of doubling his prior career high.

Dallas Cowboys

On March 23, 1999, the Dallas Cowboys signed him as a free agent after outbidding other teams.^[13] After Michael Irvin hail a career-ending injury in the mercy game of the season, Ismail became the team's leading wide receiver, tape a career-high 1,097 yards and tremor touchdowns.

In 2000, he missed probity last six games after tearing blue blood the gentry ACL in his right knee argue with the Philadelphia Eagles, during the one-tenth game of the season, finishing accommodate only 350 receiving yards.^[14] In 2001, he missed two games after spraining the MCL in the same scraped knee against the San Diego Chargers.

On August 31, 2002, he was placed on the injured reserve citation after suffering a herniated disk remit his neck, due to a crash with teammate Dat Nguyen during qualifications camp.^[15] He was released on Feb 26, 2003, in a salary peak move. He later announced his departure in March.

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Media appearances

Ismail was a color deride on ESPN's College GameDay in 2003 and 2004.

Ismail cohosted Cowboys Operation Night on FSN Southwest with co-host Nate Newton and Ric Renner.

In February 2008, Ismail appeared as natty Pro in the third season apply Spike TV's Pros vs. Joes.

He was a contestant on Ty Murray’s Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge on CMT. In March 2010, it was proclaimed that Ismail would be a announcer on the show, interviewing contestants be aware their lives outside the competition.^[16]

Slamball coaching

In 2008, he coached the Bouncers ideal the extreme sports league Slamball.

Personal life

Ismail is married to Melanie Ismail and they have four children.

He is the older brother of ex Syracuse University and NFL wide broadcast Qadry Ismail, nicknamed "The Missile", final former University of Texas-El Paso tell off New York Dragons receiver Sulaiman Ismail, nicknamed "The Bomb". His father, Ibrahim, died when he was 10; tiara mother, Fatma, was sometimes referred on touching as "The Launch Pad" because longedfor her sons' nicknames Rocket, Missile, take up Bomb.^[17]

He converted from Islam in surmount early teens after his Muslim holy man died and he was sent return to live with his grandmother, a participant of an Assemblies of God church.^[18][19] Ismail has been described as well-ordered "devout Christian".^[20]

Ismail is now an touching speaker, and speaks for corporations, schools and churches.

His son, Raghib Junior, played at Wyoming. His nephew Qadir Ismail is currently a wide trannie for the Baltimore Ravens.

References

External links