Isaiah Davis has dealt with injuries, a postponed season and trying to make the leap to the NFL from a small college.
But nothing will ever compare to a life-altering tornado that swept through Davis’ town and almost ended his life.
Last year, the former South Dakota State running back missed a phone call that ended three long days of waiting.
He was being selected by the New York Jets with the No. 173 overall pick in the fifth round, on the final day of the 2024 NFL Draft.
“I got picked up day three,” Davis exclusively told talkSPORT.
“The whole three hours before I got my name called, I was just waiting, anticipating. It’s crazy the one time I put my phone down was the one time it rang, and it was a special moment.
“I felt like everything I had worked for kind of paid off. Just to experience that with my family and see their happiness and their excitement for me was just a blessing.”
Cam Ward, Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders are the biggest names in the 2025 draft, which will run April 24-26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Davis’ final-day draft blessing would have never happened without love and luck.
On May 22, 2011, an EF5 tornado — which has the strength to tear buildings from foundations — blasted through Joplin, Missouri.
The tornado lasted for 32 minutes and stretched to one mile.
More than 15,000 vehicles were carried by the tornado, with some flying hundreds of yards.
GettyDavis found playing time with the New York Jets as a rookie running back[/caption] GettyHe carved out a strong college career at South Dakota State[/caption]A medical center was directly hit by the tornado, with every window blown out and top floors ripped away.
Almost 1,000 homes in the Joplin area were destroyed, while churches, elementary schools, a high school and two fire stations were either destroyed or damaged.
The tornado, which was the deadliest in the United States since 1947, resulted in 161 deaths and almost 1,000 people being injured.
Davis and his brother survived the tornado by laying beneath a mattress in a hallway of their house.
“It was traumatizing,” Davis said.
“Thankfully my dad had a plan and we all got in the hallway, and we’re sitting under a mattress for about five minutes while the tornado was passing.
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“Two years after the tornado, any kind of storm or anything that came around, rain, I was always thinking about the worst outcome.
“But I’m blessed that he (my dad) was able to make a quick decision and protect his family.”
The Jets suffered through an embarrassing 2024 season, going 5-12 while Robert Salah was fired as head coach and Aaron Rodgers lost his favored status in New York.
But Davis showed promise, playing in all 17 games while rushing for 174 yards and a touchdown, and adding 75 receiving yards and a TD.
South Dakota State has had 36 players drafted, yet only eight had their name called in the draft since 1999.
Davis has the potential to rise in 2025 with rookie head coach Aaron Glenn bringing new sideline fire to the Jets.
“It really is just a big blessing, a dream come true,” Davis said.
“I had a couple moments last year where I kind of felt like all the extra reps — the extra work I put in since I was 6 and started playing football — ended up paying off.
“To have those moments, to be able to take care of my family, have the experiences with my friends as well, it was really just a big blessing.”
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