2011 safety looking for in-state interest

Last weekend Hattiesburg (Miss.) Oak Grove took down the defending state champions in Mississippi's largest classification, the Meridian Wildcats. However, just one week earlier, Oak Grove was handed its lone loss of the season to Natchez High School. A junior prospect with a hand in that upset as well as many other successes for the Natchez program is safety Brian Isaac.

Isaac, a 5-foot-11, 185 athletic safety, does most of his work roaming the defensive backfield but he has found himself a crucial part of the team in other ways as well this fall.

"I'm doing a lot on the team, I'm a big part of the team this year," Isaac said. "I'm doing special teams in punts and returns. They don't use me that much at offense, they just have me on special teams and defense."

Initially lining up at the strong safety position, the 2011 prospect has recently transitioned into free safety for his team, allowing him more of a presence in the pass game.

"They moved me from strong safety to free," he said. "They put me there to be more of a ballhawk. I have one interception so far. I'm averaging seven tackles a game. The last game we played I had 15 tackles."

On kickoff returns, Isaac has found his way out to midfield on nearly every touch, showing his athleticism with the ball in his hands. That athleticism has drawn some early interest from a number of colleges around the country, though he has yet to get interest from within his own backyard.

"I get letters from Notre Dame and Alabama, they send me letters every Friday," he said. "No Mississippi schools have contacted me except Alcorn State. My brother plays at Alcorn State. Nebraska, they send me invitations to their games and stuff like that."

Already, Isaac has been on the Alabama campus unofficially. He got a chance to see the Crimson Tide dismantle Arkansas and got to see one of his favorite college players perform.

"I went to the game when Alabama played Arkansas," he said. "I got to see Julio Jones and all those guys. That's my favorite player. I like Tennessee too. I like Tennessee because of Eric Berry. His parents are from my hometown. Him and Julio Jones are the only two college players that I really look up to."

Though he has gotten interest from several prestigious out of state programs, Isaac is anxious to finally start hearing from some of the in-state powers.

"I really want some teams in Mississippi to show interest but none of them have even called me or sent letters or anything," he said. "I like Mississippi State but they haven't called."

With the heart of the district schedule in front of him and with every team in Natchez's district with at least one loss, there is plenty of time to worry about recruiting. Isaac is now worried about the schedule in front of him.