The connection between the University of Idaho and the NFL continues to grow, as two players with Vandal ties took the next step in their football journeys following last week’s NFL Draft. Linebacker Isiah King and edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby both landed with the Philadelphia Eagles, giving Idaho another pair of alumni at the professional level.
King, who spent his entire collegiate career in Moscow, signed with Philadelphia as an undrafted free agent shortly after the draft concluded.
A native of San Diego, King arrived at Idaho in 2021 as a defensive back, appearing in three games while preserving his redshirt. The following season marked a turning point, as he transitioned to linebacker, a move that would ultimately shape his career. As a redshirt freshman in 2022, he totaled 19 tackles and recorded an interception, displaying early signs of his playmaking ability.
By 2024, King had carved out a significant role in Idaho’s defensive rotation. He finished the season with 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and a sack. During his senior campaign in 2025, King became a full-time starter and one of the leaders of the Vandal defense. He posted career highs across the board with 79 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks, while also forcing a fumble.
That growth did not go unnoticed by Idaho’s coaching staff. Head coach Thomas Ford praised King’s development and persistence, pointing to his early contributions on special teams.
“I couldn’t be more excited for Isiah,” Ford said in a press release. “He embodies what being a Vandal is all about. Watching him go through his development here has been so rewarding.”
King now joins a Philadelphia roster fresh off a Super Bowl LIX championship, entering a linebacker room that did not see another player selected at his position in the draft. His ability to contribute on special teams, combined with his experience and instincts at linebacker, could give him a pathway to making the roster.
He won’t be the only player with Idaho ties in the Eagles organization. James-Newby, one of the most dominant defensive players to come through the program in recent years, was selected by Philadelphia in the seventh round with the 252nd overall pick.
James-Newby’s path to the NFL has been anything but conventional. He began his collegiate career at Montana Tech, where he played two seasons before transferring to Idaho and emerging as a force on the defensive line.
In 2023, his first season with the Vandals, James-Newby recorded 38 tackles and five sacks, quickly establishing himself as a disruptive presence. He followed that up with a breakout 2024 campaign, tallying 65 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks, along with two forced fumbles. His performance earned him First Team All-Big Sky honors and recognition as an AFCA FCS All-American, solidifying his status as one of the top defenders at the FCS level.
Following Idaho head coach Jason Eck to the University of New Mexico for his final season, James-Newby continued to produce, this time against FBS competition. In 2025, he recorded 52 tackles, nine sacks and two forced fumbles, earning First Team All-Mountain West honors and proving his ability to perform at the highest level of college football.
James-Newby’s selection in the draft, combined with King’s signing, highlights the growing visibility of Idaho’s program and its ability to develop NFL-caliber talent.
For the Vandals, having two players with recent ties to the program enter the league at the same time represents continued progress for a program looking to establish itself as a consistent pipeline to professional football.