NATCHEZ — Brian Isaac packed his bags and made his way to Wesson Monday to begin the next phase of his football career — and life in general.

The former Natchez High School player signed this spring to play football for Copiah-Lincoln Community College as a defensive back, and Isaac said he’s been staying busy in order to be ready to go this fall.

“It’s just a new beginning,” Isaac said. “Life’s just beginning. I can’t go back, I just have to go forward and achieve my goals.”

Isaac said he’s already been preparing for Co-Lin.

“I’ve been going to run in the mornings on the trail at Duncan Park,” Isaac said. “Then, I go lift weights at Natchez Fitness.”

Isaac, who’s fresh off of track and baseball, said he’s working to build his upper body strength.

“We weren’t really (lifting) with track, we were just doing a lot of running, so that’s what I’m focusing on right now,” Isaac said.

He is rooming with Ferriday High School star DeVante Scott, and Isaac said he’s excited about getting to play with several Miss-Lou players at Co-Lin.

“It’s me, him, (Franklin County’s) Milton Griffin and Jefferson County’s Robert Wells,” Isaac said. “We have the most recruits from the Miss-Lou.

“I’m hoping for us to have a good team this year, and looking for us to get a ring. Gulf Coast Community College should have a good team, too, but we’ll give them a good game.”

Isaac said he’s good friends with Scott, and the two have been going head-to-head since they were in middle school.

“I remember when I was in eighth grade, and I was playing quarterback,” Isaac said. “Ferriday always used to beat us, and I was about to run it in and score with 32 seconds left.

“DeVante came up and chopped me off, and kept me from scoring. I’ll never forget that, but I got him good in our game this past season.”

Isaac said he’s also looking forward to playing against former teammate Trevon Chatman, who signed with Hinds Community College.

“I can’t wait to play them, because he’ll be at wide receiver and I’ll be at defensive back,” Isaac said.

During the summer, Isaac will be working to get eligible after not passing his English exam at NHS.

“Co-Lin is going to have me going through a process (to get eligible),” he said. “It’s just something I have to face and get past. My friends and family ask me if I’ll be OK, but I know I’ll be OK.”

Isaac said he appreciates how much NHS football coach Lance Reed has helped him through things, and said he’ll miss his former coach.

“I call him whenever I have a problem, and he always picks up no matter where he is,” Isaac said. “I’ll miss him, but I’ll still keep in touch.”

Isaac also said he’ll miss his friends, teachers and teammates at NHS — and one more person in particular.

“I’m going to miss the lunch lady, Essie Granger,” Isaac said. “Every day after lunch was over, I’d always ask her if she saved me some cookies. I’m going to miss those cookies the most.”