Kent State wide receiver Isaiah McKoy offers the Golden Flashes the best opportunity of having a player selected in the NFL Draft since 2014. As one former alum retires from the NFL in Julian Edelman, can McKoy replenish the Kent State cohort suiting up on Sundays following the 2021 NFL Draft?
Isaiah McKoy NFL Draft Player Profile
- Position: Wide Receiver
- School: Kent State
- Current Year: Junior
- Height: 6’2″
- Weight: 200 pounds
Tony Pauline’s Isaiah McKoy Scouting Report
Positives: Dependable pass catcher who is best on underneath routes. Uses his hands to separate from defenders, effectively times receptions, and displays terrific eye/hand coordination. Tracks the pass in the air, gets vertical, and wins out for contested throws.
Effectively uses his frame to shield away defenders, extends his hands to make the reception away from his frame, and takes a big hit yet holds onto the throw. Adjusts to the pass and nicely makes the reception in stride. Possesses terrific short-area quickness and has a burst. Keeps the play in bounds, follows blocks, and works to pick up as much yardage as possible after the reception.
Negatives: Plays to one speed and isn’t a vertical threat. Lacks overall size and play speed.
Analysis: McKoy was a consistent and productive receiver who showed a lot of progress in his game the past three years. He lacks much physical upside, but he’s dependable and can make a depth chart as a fifth receiver.
Isaiah McKoy Player Profile
A three-star recruit out of Norcross High School in Georgia, McKoy impressed as a big-play receiving threat as a senior. His 520 receiving yards came at a ridiculous 22 yards per catch. Furthermore, he snagged 8 touchdowns on just 23 receptions. He earned three stars as a recruit from 247 Sports and was ranked as the 177th-best player in Georgia.
Despite his deep-threat ability, analysts ranked him as the 283rd wide receiver in the 2018 recruiting class. Subsequently, McKoy only attracted five total offers, with none coming from Power Five programs. He committed to Ball State late in the process, but that was not the end of his recruiting journey.
Less than a month after committing to the Cardinals, McKoy flipped his commitment and signed his national letter of intent to play wide receiver for Kent State.
McKoy’s college football career at Kent State
An immediate contributor for the Golden Flashes, the speedy receiver made an impression early and often. Scoring his first touchdown in early September against Howard, he’d make his first start against Power Five opposition in Penn State. A 118-receiving-yard game against Ohio contained a 75-yard touchdown as he racked up 42 receptions, 423 receiving yards, and 3 touchdowns during his true-freshman campaign.
McKoy cemented his status as a big-play threat in college football by leading the MAC in yards per catch (15.6 YPC) as a sophomore in 2019. With 56 catches, 872 yards, and 8 touchdowns, it was a true breakout season that culminated in third-team All-MAC honors. The Kent State wide receiver generated three 100+ yard receiving games, including 158 yards and 3 touchdowns against a Ball State team that he was nearly apart of.
Amongst the disruption of the 2020 season, McKoy put together a head-turning performance. Playing in only four games, he registered three 100+ yard receiving outings for the second consecutive season. He scored a touchdown in every game, including two in a win over Bowling Green State. After securing 455 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns at a career-high of 18.2 yards per catch, the Kent State wide receiver earned first-team All-MAC recognition for the first time in his career.
Despite owning another year of availability, he declared for the 2021 NFL Draft, where he’ll attempt to be the first Kent State player to be drafted since Dri Archer in 2014. It’s been over 20 years since the program has seen a wide receiver drafted.
Isaiah McKoy’s best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft
Despite it being a deep class of wide receiving talent, McKoy has the potential to be a Day 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. A former 100m runner, he possesses the speed, agility, and ability to be a big-play threat. In addition to his skills as a wide receiver for Kent State, he also brings experience as a kick returner. That could help him stick on an NFL roster.
Teams with wide receiver needs include the Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, and New Orleans Saints.
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Oliver Hodgkinson is a staff writer for Pro Football Network. You can follow him on Twitter at @ojhodgkinson.