WESSON — Junior college brought new beginnings for former Natchez High School defensive back Brian Isaac — both on and off the field.

Isaac started all nine games for Copiah-Lincoln Community College at safety last season, racking up impressive numbers. Getting used to a different level of play wasn’t the only adjustment for Isaac, though.

With several Division I schools showing interest, Isaac once again has to get accustomed to the recruitment process.

“It feels like you’re starting over,” Isaac said. “You just have to be ready for the challenge. When the coaches come down to watch you, You feel like you’re almost there.”

Isaac is drawing interest from Nebraska, Iowa State, Memphis, Southern Mississippi and Ole Miss. He’s planning an unofficial visit to Oxford in the near future, as well as a visit to Memphis sometime in July.

Of the five, Isaac said he would likely jump at the first offer given to him.

“First offer, I’ll sign, no questions asked,” Isaac said.

Isaac finished the 2011 season with 33 tackles, 27 assists, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries for the Wolfpack. He said he spent most of his time in the box with the linebackers last season, but he expects his role to be more versatile this year. If he had his choice between hitting or intercepting the ball, Isaac said that choice is easy.

“I’m going to have to go with hitting,” he said. “Just being able to have that feeling it’s intense, knowing that you can bring someone down.”

Isaac also admitted that things are much harder in the college game than they were in high school.

“In high school, you can almost call your own play before anything happens,” he said. “In college, the ball might get up on you quickly. You have to pay attention, and you can’t have a lack of focus.”

With it being his final year at Co-Lin, Isaac said he’s ready to step up as a leader, but he realizes that’s no easy task.

“It’s good to be a leader, but you have to be a leader all the time,” Isaac said.

“You have to tell the linemen to be on their gaps and be on point. There’s no slacking. You have to be dedicated. If practice starts at 3:30, you have to be there at 3.”

Isaac is currently participating in mandatory workouts with the team, running at 3:30 every afternoon and lifting weights at 4:30 p.m. He’s on pace to graduate from Co-Lin in December.

“I went to class almost every day last semester,” Isaac said. “The only day I missed was when I had a doctor’s appointment.”

And he has the grades to show for it, with a 3.4 grade point average and a membership in the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He plans to major in criminal justice.

“I’m more focused on grades than anything else,” Isaac said.

Isaac still keeps in touch with some of his former high school coaches, including Lance Reed, Dwayne Taylor and Larry Wesley.

“Coach Reed always tells me to keep up the good work, stay strong and take care of business,” Isaac said.

Even though he’s moved to Texas, Isaac said Taylor is able to watch Isaac play on Co-Lin’s website every time they have a football game.

“He always tells me what I did right and what I did wrong,” Isaac said. “He just tries to help me. He’ll call me after every game.”

As for Wesley, Isaac said his former track coach’s advice is simple.

“He’ll say, ‘Work on the speed, boy, you’re going to make it,’” Isaac joked.