Pirates Re-sign Isaac Zico for 2023 Season
Presented by Phoenix Communications, Inc.

By Mick Moninghoff
Pirates Broadcaster
December 20, 2022

WORCESTER, MA - The Massachusetts Pirates have re-signed wide receiver Isaac Zico for the 2023 season. Last season the 6'0", 190 lb. wide receiver appeared in 15 games for the Pirates making 38 receptions for 435 yards and seven touchdowns. The former standout from Purdue University averaged 11.4 yards per reception and averaged 29 yards per game.

Zico say's coming back to Massachusetts was a good option.

"I looked at the XFL draft and I really didn't get any movement there. I'm hoping to get something a little later in the season with the deal the Indoor Football League has with the XFL, he said. 

Zico describes his style as a receiver with one word, "explosive."

"I'm hard to take down because it takes a corner and a safety to tackle me. I have a lot of grit to my game," he added. 

A native of Atlanta, GA, Zico also ran back 25 kickoffs with an average of 17.6 yards per return including a 48-yard return for a touchdown against the San Diego Strikeforce. 

"You'll definitely see my face again scoring touchdowns on the special teams unit, Zico said. 

This will actually be Zico's third contract with Massachusetts. The Pirates acquired Zico from the Louisville Xtreme dispersal draft after that team ceased operations in 2021.  Zico did not appear in any games that season for the United Bowl Champions. 

In 2022 for the Pirates Zico's top performances were against the Sioux Falls Storm where he had seven receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown in a 43-42 victory. He also had two touchdown receptions at Bismarck in a 54-43 win over the Bucks. Now he's looking forward to returning to the Pirates.

"Worcester is a good place to be. Good vibes, good people and good food," Zico said. He also likes the competition in the IFL. "It's pretty good to be honest. A couple of times we lost games and that told us that we can work on a lot of things and get better. That just tells me it is a competitive league filled with other guys that played at a high level, so I like the competition. It's pretty decent," he said.

In 2021 Zico played in the Spring League as his team, the Linemen, defeated the Jousters 26-23 to win the league's Mega Bowl. In that game Zico caught two touchdown passes including the game winner, a 16 yard reception with 52 seconds remaining. 

Zico began collegiate career at Georgia Military College, where he was a Junior College All-American. In 11 games he accounted for 14 touchdowns and almost 1,000 yards. In 2017 he was off to the Big 10 with the Purdue Boilermakers. In two seasons he appeared in 16 games with 52 receptions for 777 yards and seven touchdowns. Zico gained attention in his final season of 2018 when he had 46 catches for 734 yards and six scores. His best performances were a five reception, 127 yard, two touchdown game vs. Illinois and a four catch, 100 yard game against Missouri.

Zico signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans in 2019 and later with the Arizona Cardinals that same season. In December of that year he signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He was placed on the Opt-Out list in August of 2020.

Looking back on his first year in the IFL Zico said "pace" was the key to his success.

"Outside everything is fast, but indoor you have to control your tempo. You can't run certain things full speed because the field is only so wide. You only have so much ground to work with. I definitely had to learn tempo and pace. Sometimes you have to slow things down and sometimes you have to speed things up but I learned that.

The 2021 United Bowl Champions; Massachusetts Pirates are members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Pirates play all home games at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center located at 50 Foster St. Worcester, MA, 01608. For more information on the Massachusetts Pirates please call (508)452-MASS (6277), email contact@masspiratesfootball.com or visit http://www.masspiratesfootball.com. For 2023 season, half-season, luxury, or group ticket packages please call 508-452-MASS (6277) or visit www.masspiratesfootball.com/tickets. Follow the Pirates on Facebook via Facebook.com/MAPirates, Instagram @mass.pirates, and Twitter @mass_pirates.