Ishmael played college football for the Syracuse Orange from 2014 to 2017. In four years at Syracuse, he totaled 219 receptions for 2,891 yards and 18 touchdowns.[2]
As a senior, Ishmael had eight games in which he totaled more than 100 receiving yards, including 143 yards against Florida State and 187 yards in his final college game against Boston College.[3] For the season, he ranked second among all Division I FBS players with 105 receptions and third with 1,347 receiving yards.[4] He broke Marvin Harrison's Syracuse career record for receiving yards; he also broke Amba Etta-Tawo Syracuse single-season record for receptions.[5][6] At the end of the 2017 season, he was selected as a first-team player on the All-ACC team.[7] He was also selected as a semifinalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award.[8]SB Nation named him first-team All-American.[9]
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL draft, Ishmael signed a free agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts on May 1, 2018.[10][11] He was waived on September 1, 2018 and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[12][13] He was promoted to the active roster on October 26, 2018.[14] He was waived on November 9, 2018 and re-signed to the practice squad.[15][16] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 13, 2019.[17]
On August 7, 2019, Ishmael was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.[18] He was waived on April 27, 2020.[19]
