As NFL dream nears, Isaiah Nwokobia enters 2025 as example for doing NIL right, staying home at SMU

It’s around 4:30 a.m. in fall camp before the Dallas heat takes over and SMU safety Isaiah Nwokobia is likely awake. The No. 23 jersey he’s worn for three straight seasons now in honor of Jerry LeVias will soon take the field for another practice.

Just days away from his final college football season beginning, Nwokobia was named a captain by his SMU teammates. The Dallas native also received All-American nods this preseason.

Needless to say, his stock is high, but it’s not affected him.

“Definitely (have) a chip on my shoulder because I remember when I wasn’t predicted to be an NFL player,” Nwokobia told On The Pony Express. “I think about those times. I use it to motivation until this day. Understanding the opportunity I have to change my family’s lives.”

Nwokobia points to God and his work ethic helping him to where he is. Each year, he’s topped his previous efforts and work ethic, he said. 2023 was the year his career turned around for him at SMU. After injuries and things not going his way as a true freshman in 2022, God and work ethic changed his life.

His mother, Linda Leach, worked hard for Nwokobia and his siblings while he was growing up. Now Nwokobia works hard so he can take care of his mother.

“Watching my mom sacrifice what she sacrificed. I’m so blessed by God,” he said. “I plan to take full advantage of it. I’ll leave no doubt. Anything that I can do, I promise you it’s being done to make sure I play in the NFL.”

Before NIL, he thought he had to get out of college as soon as possible to the next level at all costs, even if it meant an uncertain draft situation. Instead, he earned his degree and returned to SMU with goals of getting drafted high.

He’s invested in real estate and gave back to his community with the Boys and Girls Club of Dallas. 

“Watching her work two jobs, it’s been amazing so some of the things I’ve been able to do has been centered around Dallas,” the former Skyline Raider said. “Just trying to help out, especially in my city, because growing up, I was always in after school programs because my mom couldn’t always be there to pick me up so I see a lot of myself in those younger kids. I want to be able to help them and just be an example for them. I take pride in helping my community for sure.

“It’s just such a blessing when you do NIL the right way.”

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Nwokobia isn’t alone leading SMU’s secondary. Fellow Dallas native Ahmaad Moses is one of the nation’s top returning safeties. The two have been inseparable training on the Hilltop and with Flight Skillz, one of the country’s top trainers.

“I’m with him almost every single day. I think that’s truly going to help our chemistry and our bond both on and off the field this year,” Nwokobia said. “We’re just going to let y’all see, but I think we’re definitely the best duo in the nation in my opinion because I just know the work we put in this offseason and we’re excited to prove that to everybody.”

SMU’s staff has seen Nwokobia and Moses take over leadership roles. That’s much-needed as the Mustangs revamp a defense with numerous new faces. Nwokobia is the only player to start every game last year that returns.

“Consistency from them and what they do as far as their assignment and understanding their responsibility. The key aspect of seeing them grow and become leaders and continue to become leaders is the way that you see them interact with the younger guys,” pass game coordinator Rickey Hunley said this summer. “Zay and Ahmaad will stand behind those younger guys when they’re taking reps and they’re like me and Scott (Symons). We kind of step back because they’ll be telling them, hey this is where they need to be aligned, this is what it needs to look like, this is the way it needs to look, this is what you’re thinking, the execution of it. That’s always positive to see guys in that role.”

SMU knows it has two of the nation’s best safeties back there.

“It’s hard it’s hard not to say the two safeties (Nwokobia and Moses) I mean as far as like production and alpha dogs coming back,” SMU defensive coordinator Scott Symons added when asked who the team’s ‘dogs’ will be this year. “I’ve been proud to see them try to emerge in those (leadership) roles.”

Nwokobia admits it’s tough to replicate what SMU did in 2024 defensively after losing “a lot of great players.” Still, he’s supremely confident the Mustangs have what it takes.

“It’s a championship team. I know what it takes. I know some of the things you’re supposed to see. The leadership that you need, the work ethic that you need, the depth that you need with the team, and we have it all. We have a tremendous chance to be special as long as we continue to keep the main thing the main thing and that’s working hard and being together as a team.”

From his early morning start, Nwokobia’s summer consisted of practice, weight training, skill training, film and more. Occasionally, he’ll nap to help his recovery.

Sometimes, Nwokobia caps his busy days with EA Sports College Football, if he’s up for it. Nwokobia is like a Road to Glory create-a-player. He’s just living out his dream, but in the real world.

“It’s been everything I’ve dreamed of, literally. The goal was to come here and not only talk about bringing SMU back, but in my opinion, we’ve brought it back. It’s no more ‘Oh, we hope to get to a conference championship.’ That’s the standard. We believe we’re supposed to each and every single year. If we don’t, we didn’t meet the standard. This last year, we’re going to go get more of it.”

Every year, Nwokobia’s done more. Don’t expect anything different in 2025.

He’s leaving no doubt.