Isaiah Davis Bio
Isaiah Davis (born February 21, 2002) is an American professional football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits and was selected by the Jets in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing approximately 218 pounds, Davis has quickly emerged as a versatile backfield option for New York.
Isaiah Davis
Early Life and Background
Isaiah Davis grew up in Joplin, Missouri, where he developed a passion for football at a young age. His family’s home was destroyed in the 2011 Joplin tornado, one of the most destructive tornadoes in modern American history. He and his brother survived the disaster by taking shelter under a mattress in a hallway of their house, an experience that shaped his resilience and determination.
Davis attended Joplin High School, where he starred as both a running back and a linebacker. During his junior season, he rushed for 1,676 yards and 28 touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the top high school prospects in Missouri. As a senior, he was named the Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year after an outstanding campaign that included 2,283 rushing yards and 45 touchdowns on 253 carries, along with 19 receptions for 220 yards and two scores. He also contributed 52 tackles on defense. His Joplin team lost to De Smet Jesuit High School in the 2019 Class 6A Missouri state championship. Following his senior season, Davis committed to play college football at South Dakota State.
Path to Professional Football
Isaiah Davis chose South Dakota State University, a program with a strong tradition of developing skilled running backs. The decision allowed him to compete at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, where the Jackrabbits had built a national powerhouse. His move from Missouri to South Dakota marked a significant step in his football journey, and he quickly adapted to the physical and competitive demands of college football.
Over the course of his college career, Davis steadily developed into one of the most productive backs in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). His combination of vision, balance, and pass-catching ability made him a featured piece of the Jackrabbits’ offense. By the end of his senior season, he had earned first-team FCS All-American honors and the MVFC Co-Offensive Player of the Year award, cementing his status as a legitimate professional prospect heading into the 2024 NFL draft.
Isaiah Davis Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Davis’s freshman season at South Dakota State was postponed from the fall to the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an unusual start to his college career. Despite the disruption, he made an immediate impact by rushing for 818 yards and 10 touchdowns, demonstrating the burst and finishing ability that had made him a high school star in Missouri.
As a sophomore, Davis battled injuries that limited his availability, but he still managed 701 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 95 carries. He earned first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference recognition, signaling his emergence as one of the top backs in the league. His production and consistency during this stretch helped the Jackrabbits remain a perennial FCS contender.
South Dakota State Breakthrough (2022–2023)
In 2022, Davis played a key role in South Dakota State’s run to the FCS national title, delivering strong performances throughout the postseason. His first-team All-MVFC selection that year reflected his growth into a complete back capable of carrying the offense against top-tier competition.
Davis saved his best collegiate season for 2023, when he rushed for 1,451 yards and 15 touchdowns to lead the Jackrabbits to the 2023 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game, which they won to claim the FCS national championship. That year he was named first-team FCS All-American and MVFC Co-Offensive Player of the Year, establishing himself as one of the premier running backs in the subdivision and a clear professional talent.
New York Jets Era (2024–Present)
Isaiah Davis was selected with the 173rd overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft by the New York Jets. Joining a backfield looking to add depth and physicality, Davis transitioned from the FCS level to the NFL, where he began competing for a role in the Jets’ offensive rotation. His professional contract began in 2024, marking the start of his NFL career.
As a rookie with the New York Jets, Davis has begun adjusting to the speed, complexity, and physicality of the professional game. His pass-catching skills and ability to contribute on multiple downs have given the coaching staff flexibility in how to deploy him. The early stages of his Jets career have been focused on development, special teams, and earning a larger offensive role as the season progresses.
Driving Style and Strengths
Davis is recognized for his balance, low center of gravity, and ability to absorb contact while maintaining forward momentum. He shows strong vision as a runner, consistently finding lanes in zone-based rushing attacks, and he is a reliable pass catcher out of the backfield. His background as a high school linebacker also gives him added value in pass protection, an area where young running backs are often tested early in their NFL careers.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Isaiah Davis’s career are his two FCS national championships with the Jackrabbits in 2022 and 2023, as well as his selection in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft. His 2023 senior season, in which he rushed for 1,451 yards and 15 touchdowns, stands as a milestone campaign that helped solidify his draft stock. Surviving the 2011 Joplin tornado as a child also remains one of the most formative personal milestones in his life.
Isaiah Davis Career Wins
Isaiah Davis’s competitive achievements span both the collegiate and professional levels. His most prominent team success includes back-to-back FCS national championships with South Dakota State in 2022 and 2023, a remarkable run for a program at that level.
College Highlights
During his time with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, Davis helped lead the program to two consecutive NCAA Division I Football Championship Game victories, with the 2023 title serving as the crown jewel of his college career. He was a first-team All-MVFC selection in both 2022 and 2023, and he capped his senior year with first-team FCS All-American honors and MVFC Co-Offensive Player of the Year recognition. His freshman rushing total of 818 yards and 10 touchdowns, his 701-yard sophomore campaign, and his 1,451-yard senior season form the statistical backbone of his decorated college résumé.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his championship seasons, Davis earned the Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year award as a senior at Joplin High School, capping a high school career that featured 2,283 rushing yards and 45 touchdowns in his final season. He also helped Joplin reach the 2019 Class 6A Missouri state championship game, an appearance that underscored his standing as one of the top players in the state.
Isaiah Davis Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Isaiah Davis was raised in Joplin, Missouri, in a family that weathered the devastating 2011 Joplin tornado, losing their home in the disaster. He has a brother, and the two survived the tornado together by sheltering under a mattress in a hallway of the family home. Publicly available details about his parents and other family members are limited, and Davis has kept most of his personal and family life private.
Personal Life
Beyond his football career, Davis is known to come from a tight-knit family shaped by perseverance in the face of hardship. He has not publicly shared details about a spouse or children, and he keeps his off-field life largely out of the public eye. His focus remains on building his professional career with the New York Jets.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Isaiah Davis is expected to compete for a larger role in the New York Jets’ backfield as he builds on his rookie year. The Jets’ coaching staff has emphasized player development, and Davis’s pass-catching ability and run balance make him a strong candidate to expand his offensive snaps. His performance during offseason work and training camp will be key in determining how the Jets deploy him in 2025.
Davis’s transition from the FCS level to the NFL will continue to be a storyline to watch, particularly as he adapts to the speed of professional defenses. The Jets’ backfield rotation and offensive scheme will play a major role in shaping his opportunities, and a strong preseason could fast-track his emergence as a regular contributor.
With two FCS national championships already on his résumé, Isaiah Davis enters the 2025 season with the goal of establishing himself as a reliable piece of the New York Jets’ offense. Continued growth in pass protection, route running, and overall consistency will determine how quickly he carves out a featured role. The outlook for Davis is one of steady progression as he works to translate his college success into a long, productive NFL career.