Eagles rookie Isiah King has received high praise from his college coach, Thomas Ford, who highlights his development and versatility. King, an undrafted free agent from the Idaho Vandals, is seen as a promising addition to the Eagles' roster.
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The Philadelphia Eagles added plenty of attention-grabbing names during the 2026 NFL Draft. Then they upped the ante by stacking an interesting group of undrafted rookie free agents. One of the more intriguing defensive additions played his college ball for the Idaho Vandals.
More often than not, UDFAs won't receive the same level of intrigue as players who were drafted. Isiah King is no exception, but based on the praise coming from people who know him best, the Eagles may have landed another developmental piece worth monitoring closely. Vandals head coach Thomas Ford recently spoke glowingly about King via Idaho’s official team site. He made it crystal clear that he thinks highly of the versatile defender.
"I couldn't be more excited for Isiah! He embodies what being a Vandal is all about. Watching him go through his development here has been so rewarding. Played a ton of special teams as a young player for me when I was the coordinator, and had a phenomenal senior season here in Moscow. Everyone in the building knew he was a Sunday guy, so I'm ecstatic to see him get his chance with the Eagles!"
That last part stands out. “Sunday guy.” Did you catch that? That’s football jargon that coaches don’t casually throw around. King’s path already makes him fascinating. Originally recruited as a defensive back, he eventually transitioned to linebacker at Idaho while steadily developing into one of the defense’s most productive players. By his senior season, he posted 79 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, and forced a fumble.
Thomas Ford praised Isiah King for embodying the spirit of the Vandals and highlighted his development and performance during his senior season.
The Eagles signed Isiah King as an undrafted free agent due to his versatility and the positive feedback from his college coach, indicating he could be a valuable developmental player.
Isiah King is a versatile defender, which suggests he can play multiple positions on the defensive side of the ball.
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Now comes the interesting part. Philadelphia may not view him strictly as a linebacker. He wore No. 39 during rookie minicamp, which immediately fueled speculation that the Eagles could experiment with moving him back toward the secondary. That possibility becomes even more intriguing given his size, athleticism, and special-teams background.
It also doesn't hurt that he reunites with former Idaho teammate Keyshawn James-Newby in the City of Brotherly Love. King, however, will enter camp without much national attention. Still, the Eagles clearly saw traits worth developing, and if his former coach is right, Philadelphia may have quietly uncovered another player capable of becoming much more than just a summer roster body.
The Eagles have built one of the NFL’s deepest rosters in part by finding value where other teams stop looking. Now and then, one of those overlooked names turns into something real.
Isiah King arrives in Philadelphia without much fanfare, but his versatility could translate. His special teams value could shine through. His former coach's belief could prove accurate. If so, the Birds may have quietly added another under-the-radar defender who sticks around much longer than anyone expects. No one would complain if we see another Reed Blankenship, or in this case, the first Isiah King.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Idaho coach says Eagles rookie Isiah King is NFL-ready