Professional football player-turned-actor Isaac Keys, doesn’t believe in letting anything stand between him and the achievement of his goals. As his last name serendipitously indicates, the Saint Louis, MO native realizes that he’s innately armed with the utensils necessary to bypass any and all barriers. Among these tools are talent, optimism, perseverance, a killer work ethic and a healthy heap of faith. Take, for instance, his entry into the NFL. Isaac was always a natural athlete, easily excelling at baseball since the age of five and then football at age seven. Continuing both sports throughout high school, he showed immediate promise in baseball but found more of a challenge in football to be recruited to play on the collegiate level. Through persistence and determination in his work ethic Isaac was presented with the opportunity to walk on at his alma mater, Morehouse College, in Atlanta, GA. While only playing just 3 years he was a Pre-season All American, 2 times Defensive Lineman of the year and was selected for the 1st team All Conference. During his time as a Morehouse Maroon Tiger, he and his coaches realized the potential for him to play at a higher level. One of a small handful of HBCU graduates to actually make it to the pros; he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings in 2001. However, injuries and lack of roster spots lead him to short stints with various teams before finally landing on the Arizona Cardinals roster in 2004. After being with the Cardinals for three years Isaac realized it was time to turn the page to a new chapter in his life. Keys had taken an acting class in high school and remembered how comfortable he felt playing various characters. After a deep soul searching and taking more acting classes, Isaac realized he should pursue an acting career. He decided to make his first big off-field and on-screen appearance as a contestant on season 1 of TV One’s dating reality show “The Ultimate Merger with Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth. The show proved a valuable tool in increasing his comfort in front of the cameras. Further, it gained him a great deal of notoriety, which is an important tool in opening Hollywood doors. Having been lauded for his good looks, chiseled physique and sincere sensitivity by popular publications such as Essence and Uptown Magazines, Isaac is already a favorite of the female audience. Still Keys isn’t content to be a mere heartthrob. He’s aiming for respect as an accredited actor. As such, he’s currently making his foray into stage plays, music videos, movies and other productions. He’s constantly reading scripts and looking for more ways to expand his arsenal of experiences from which to draw inspiration for the characters he will play. Further, he eventually hopes to produce and direct his own movies. When he’s not reading scripts, auditioning or rehearsing, Mr. Keys, affectionately called “Big Ike” by his friends, enjoys outdoor physical activities and spending time with the people who know him best. He also loves helping others, so he remains an active community servant, participating in numerous events- and in various ways- throughout the year.