Kenyan-born Ismail Mahdi hopes to 'create a legacy' with Arizona football

New Arizona running back Ismail Mahdi didn’t have any aspirations to play football until he wowed his childhood friends and eventual teammates during recess in elementary school.

Then a second-grader, Mahdi’s speed and athleticism made his friends inquire about him playing football beyond a school yard in Dallas.

“My friends were like, ‘Dang, you’re really fast and really good at football. Would you consider playing organized sports?’” Mahdi said. “I was like, ‘I can’t do that, because my parents don’t have the extra money to pay for the cleats and the (registration fee) and stuff like that.’”

In 2003, Mahdi — one of eight children (six boys, two girls) — was born in a Somalian refugee camp in Kenya after his parents fled a war zone in Somalia. Mahdi’s family emigrated to the United States when he was nearly 1 year old. The Mahdi family name is Islamic for “the expected messiah of Muslim tradition,” according to Merriam-Webster.

“My parents made a sacrifice for me and my brothers to have a great opportunity in the U.S.,” he said. “They left everything behind so me, my brothers and sisters can come here and have a better life. ... My parents didn’t really speak English, so we had other people help us out for my parents to get jobs and create a better living.

“When I came here, it wasn’t about football, it was about creating a better living for my family. My dad focused on me and my brothers, working and making money so me and my family could have a good living.”

Then Mahdi’s life evolved into football 24/7 once one of his closest childhood friends secured a spot for Mahdi, who also ran track, to play youth football and eventually star at Plano East High School in Murphy, Texas.

“From there, I just fell in love with the game,” Mahdi said. “My parents let me play and his pops took me to practice. Early in the morning, he would pick me up and take me to practice. From there, I built a great relationship with those guys.”

Mahdi temporarily moved in with the aforementioned family in the eighth grade, “so I could take football more seriously,” he said.

“I’m thankful for my parents to allow me to move in with them to show me how to be accountable, how to be disciplined and all of the things you need to be a good football player,” added Mahdi.

If he didn’t choose the football path at an early age, Mahdi “would probably just be working at my dad’s mechanic shop” in Texas instead of playing running back at the UA.

When Mahdi’s parents first watched him play football, “they were amazed” by his talents, he said. Their amazement was amplified once they realized Mahdi could turn football into a college education and a livelihood.

“They didn’t know about scholarships and stuff, so they were scared,” Mahdi said. “They were like, ‘When you go to college, do you have to pay for it?’ I was like, ‘No, mom and dad, I get a full-ride scholarship and a full education for free.’ They were surprised and didn’t know that was an opportunity for me. They were just happy and proud that I came here and gave myself an opportunity for free education in the U.S. They boast about it to their people back home. It’s a proud feeling to make my parents proud and going to college for free in the U.S.”

Mahdi started his college career at Houston Christian in 2022, before playing the following two seasons at Texas State, where he was wildly productive as a running back and kick returner.

The 5-9, 180-pound Mahdi led FBS in all-purpose yards (2,169) in 2023 and was a two-time All-Sun Belt First-Team member. Mahdi was named a first-team All-American by CBS Sports and 247Sports in 2023. Football Writers Association of America gave Mahdi a second-team All-American nod as an all-purpose player in ‘23. Mahdi ended his TSU career with 406 rushes for 2,322 yards and 14 touchdowns, along with 31 kick returns for 760 yards and a touchdown.

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After Arizona lost running backs Quali Conley, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rayshon Luke, Mahdi transferred to the UA over Arkansas to bolster a group led by Kedrick Reescano, who had 78 carries for 359 yards and a touchdown in his first season at the UA after transferring from Ole Miss. Mahdi joined Mike Mitchell (Utah) and Quincy Craig (Portland State) as new additions at running back in the transfer portal for the UA. Arizona also signed freshman Houston-area running back Wesley Yarbrough in December.

Mahdi, who is studying to become a physical therapist and chiropractor, joined “Spears & Ali” on ESPN Tucson this week to talk about joining the Wildcats. Here’s part of that conversation:

Why did you choose Arizona for your last season playing college football?

A: “Mostly because of the coaching staff. They’re building a good culture over there. I want to be surrounded by good coaches that are going to help me on and off the field. I feel like (head coach Brent Brennan) and his staff are heading in the right direction. All the stuff on the field matters, but they care about people off the field. This is my last year and my goal is to get to the NFL and (running backs coach Alonzo Carter) has a track record of getting guys to the NFL. He has good connections on and off the field, so that was the main reason.”

How was your official visit to the UA?

A: “My visit went great. Those two, they needed a running back and someone who could come in and instantly make plays. They know I can do that. Because this is my last year, I’m all in and I want to come in here and help make a culture change and change the program. Everything went well on the visit.”

A losing season, especially one Arizona recently had, could deter recruits from joining a program. Why did you opt to face the adversity and help the UA?

A: “I’ve been doing it my whole career. I’d like to create a legacy and leave something with the program. That’s just how I was raised, just overcoming adversity, and it makes you a better person. When you go somewhere and you’re not feeling comfortable, you can make the change. I like challenges and I like going somewhere to leave a mark.”

How do you reflect on your Texas State career?

A: “At Texas State, I had a really good coaching staff and a really good offensive coordinator and those guys always put me in the right position to make plays. I had a really good special teams coach, as well. I led the country in all-purpose yards and I just did everything. Those guys just let me be me. I feel like this coaching staff, with Coach Brennan and Coach Zo, they’re going to do the same thing and let me be a versatile player on special teams, running back and if they need me to run slot (receiver), I can do anything. Coach Brennan and Coach Zo and those guys are going to allow me to be me as a player. ... The coaching staff at Texas State did a really good job of getting me ready to play at a high level.”

How do you think Arizona’s running backs will complement each other this season and help an offense that finished second-to-last in the Big 12 in rushing?

A: “Those two guys, (Reescano and Mitchell), I’ve already met them and we’re working out with each other. Mike Mitchell and Ked, they’re hard workers and great running backs, as well. I feel like we can have a good rotation and have a 1-2-3 punch. Those guys can ball, too. When somebody gets tired, the next person is up. The running back room is going to be filled with hard workers and guys ready to make plays.”

How do you see yourself fitting into first-year offensive coordinator Seth Doege’s system?

A: “Doege has a tempo offense and he sees me coming in and making plays and getting out into space and outside — really just using my speed and the way I run the ball, he’s excited for it. I’m excited for it.”