NATCHEZ — While most people were sitting at home watching college bowl games on New Year’s Day, Natchez High School junior Brian Isaac was doing his best to make sure he will be playing in one of those bowl games in the future.

Isaac, a defensive back for the Natchez High Bulldogs, participated in the National Under Armour All-American combine at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla., on New Year’s Day.

Isaac is on the ESPN Top 150 watch list, which was the reason for his invitation to the combine.

Each year, ESPN puts out a list of the top 150 college football prospects in the country, and Isaac is in the running for the prestigious honor.

He performed well at the combine, posting a 4.38 second pro shuttle time and a 33-inch vertical leap.

“It went great,” Isaac said of his experience at the combine. “There was some good competition down there from some of the top athletes in the nation. It was fun.”

Isaac, who at 5-foot-10 and 186 pounds projects as either a cornerback or a safety in college, has already drawn interest from several BCS level programs, including Alabama, Mississippi State and Northwestern.

Natchez High head football coach Lance Reed said Isaac has a great future ahead of him on the college level.

“Brian has tremendous athletic ability,” Reed said. “He can play multiple positions on the field. He’s talented and I feel like he has unlimited potential.”

Reed said Isaac has both the strength and athletic ability to succeed on the next level.

“He’s the kind of kid that can play physical, can tackle and also has good ball skills,” Reed said. “When the ball is in the air, he can go and get it. Size, strength and speed are his assets. I feel he is a Division I athlete. He has the ability.”

Isaac wouldn’t be the first Natchez High player to have success at the Division I level.

The Bulldogs have produced several good Division I players in recent years, including wide receiver Jason Bruce (Troy) and linemen J.D. Hamilton and Anthony Strauder (Mississippi State).

“We have a solid track record for having kids go on to the next level and performing at high levels,” Reed said. “I’m proud to say that. We’re always hungry for exposure and giving our guys more opportunities for that. I’m happy that Brian is one of several guys in this junior class who have the ability to go to the next level.”