Meet Isaac Keys, the former NFL player who has made a huge transition from football to acting. The St. Louis native and Morehouse College alumni, has a new career choice to which he’s very proud to be involved with. While the college he attended is heavily popular for its academics, Isaac's passion for football earned him a roster spot on the team with the hopes of making it as a stud linebacker in the National Football League. Compared to the bigger D-1 schools such as Florida, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Southern California, Clemson and many others making it to the NFL coming from a school like Morehouse that plays in the NCAA D-2 Division can be a long shot. Even though he has had great play as a linebacker during his collegiate career, he even admits that although the numbers don't there are still politics. Just looking at the simple fact of where he attended school. "Coming from the conference that I came from sometimes the scouts just don't pay attention to you at times. When they put me on that stage to play at the next level I shined when I played. It’s like I never even played at a small school." Isaac while speaking further in this situation, got in-depth saying that many pro NFL scouts have the mindset that if you don't play at the elite level in college, your accolades and statistics don't really mean anything. Especially, when compared to a player that played for a popular D-1 school.

While pursuing a career as a fresh new actor, Isaac's NFL career draws much interest because he had a chance to play with the best of the best. Football is America's most popular sport and the fan's perception of the league goes by what's seen on Sunday afternoon or Monday night. Keys is reluctant to explain that the glamorous life of a NFL star is very misleading. "Anytime after high school, it becomes a business because money is involved. Schools are paying for scholarships for students to come to these big schools for their talent. When investments are made that's when the politics start, Isaac states."

Isaac's NFL career has included stints with the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and the Arizona Cardinals. He even admits that his pro football days were a constant grind and that it was also very tiring. Regardless of the great anticipation involved with the hopes of making the NFL roster of the respected club that offered you a chance, the NFL timeline for a rookie can be called friendly competition. A strong money making market comes with a lot of consequences and this may mean that a talented undrafted rookie might have to take a loss. Isaac gets further into the political structure of NFL teams and their questionable moves. "When you are drafted that's means there is money behind you. It’s about the front office who believes in someone and they don't want to look bad by letting a player go even if the undrafted player who was just brought in is a free agent is actually more talented." Admitting that he was blessed to play in the NFL Isaac acknowledges his football days taught him many of life's lessons. Going back into the misconceptions once again, Isaac retorts on how the average-Joe fan has no idea of what happens on and off the football field with the everyday struggles of many players in the league. Going into the details again once more Isaac says, "The biggest misconception is that everybody's a millionaire and living the easy life. They only look at the benefits of the NFL. the cars, the jewelry, and what happens in order to get those types of things. They don't see the 10 hour days and the injuries, only the dollar signs. Fans don't know anything about going to work at 5:20 a.m. and not being done until 6 o'clock in the evening. Like I said before, they don't see what happens Monday-Saturday, they only know what happens on Sunday." While he's not saying the ups and downs are not worth it, he gladly explains the perks in the league are very helpful.

Now that his NFL career is over you know are about to see Isaac Keys the actor. It was funny to find that Isaac even said himself that he wish would’ve he ended his NFL career much earlier if he could do it again. His life after football included things like real estate and much more. While his passion for football was insane Keys knocks himself saying that he wish he had more passion to do other things that could’ve made his transition from leaving football much smoother. A lot of times when you limit yourself to one thing in life the stigma of one dimensional in many cases goes back to haunt many athletes. For the fact that's all they know and been breed to do their entire lives, to sit back and say "OK next phase, can be very painful to many pro athletes". It came a point where Isaac had to answer the question and say to himself "Football is over, what I’m going to do”?
 
During the interview he brought up a book titled "When the Lights are Turned Off" as a reference. Explaining the meaning of the book he gave some words offering "When the limelight is off what are you going to do? Even with a lot of my interviews most of them always start off with football and I haven't played since '07. It’s an attention-getter and a good conversation starter but I haven't played in quite some time. It grabs attention because it’s an elite level and many people aren't able to make it there."

Isaac Keys is very humble and well spoken in regards to perfecting his craft in his new future as an actor. While he technically feels he's just getting his feet wet he goes to talk about what he has in store and taking things one step at a time. "Until I star myself into a big role which I have coming I won't call myself a big actor, he states in a jokingly manner. I'm humble and I'm taking the discipline that I gained from playing football and carrying it into acting. I enjoy being a character but still being myself."

Coachable is the key term Isaac uses in order become a successful actor. When you want to become successful in any field working on your craft, it is a must to perform to your best ability. Comparing and contrasting the business aspects between pro sports and acting, Isaac let's it be known that both fields are big business. Reflecting on why time can't be wasted as there is always someone waiting in the wings to take your spot, Isaac tells it like this "Time can't be wasted and you have to adjust to what's going on right on the spot. It takes a lot of discipline when it comes to acting and that's something I gained by being a professional athlete. If you’re an avid reality TV show fan, you will soon see Isaac Keys appear on Donald Trump's "The Ultimate Merger". The shows theme is a competition with twelve other guys for the love of the beautiful Omarosa the lead star of “The Ultimate Merger” was a great yet new learning experience for the football stud now transforming into the world of acting. Detailing how he felt once realizing he had some huge expectations to fulfill, Isaac once again relates the TV world to his football playing days. Speaking on the preparation of show business he goes, "At the time when we first came apart of the show we didn’t know what was going on. I was just like you know what, this is just another life experience. It had my adrenaline going just like I was ready to play football. I had all those things that I missed and enjoyed from football.” 

Referring back to the “The Ultimate Merger” Isaac admits the competition was steep and all the men had to be on their A-game. Having described Omarosa as a beautiful woman and strong woman with a very uplifting personality, he goes on tell that Omarosa contains inner beauty as well.  From the first initial reaction between Isaac and Omarosa seemed to be one that was fair with great chemistry. Isaac speaks of her in a great tone “It has to be something about you that catches her attention, especially when you know it’s other guys coming at her. With that being said you could see what caught her attention and what didn’t. It was fun just like training camp. You were friends with everybody but at the same time it was competition. It was friendly completion but at the same time I’m gonna kick you’re a** if I get a chance too.”

The Ultimate Merger has allowed for people to dig in and found out who Isaac Keys is as a person. Isaac knows more about himself as a person which can always leads room to grow and maturation.  With new movies and plays coming soon to take his acting role to the next level, Isaac is excited for the new opportunities that gladly await him. While he’s no longer running up and down the football, Keys is making new moves that will put him in motion picture near you.