The average height of an NFL cornerback is around 5-feet, 11 inches tall and average weight is around 195 pounds.
Cooper High School’s Isaac Brown enters his senior season at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds and college programs are starting to take notice of the budding star. He holds offers from Liberty, Illinois State, Southeast Missouri State and Eastern Kentucky University along with Division II Thomas More.
Brown’s fast track to a potential in Division I football has gone in a rather non-traditional way.
“I really started playing football my freshman year,” Brown said. “My freshman year, sophomore year, I was playing receiver and then the offseason before last year I started playing DB (defensive back), and really started working at DB and been working there ever since.”
While his height helps set him apart, his work ethic takes him even further. Coaches in Union have also taken notice.
Enjoying our football coverage? We’re featuring some of the top student-athletes as we approach the start of the regular season.
Read more below.
“He’s a kid as a sophomore that got very little playing time. He worked extremely hard, put the time in and stayed committed,” Jaguars coach Randy Borchers said. “He never got down on himself and he’s got four really good offers right now. It’s really cool to see a kid like Isaac that’s put the work in that wasn’t there early.”
Brown is now regarded as one of the top cornerbacks in the state, his 6-foot-3 frame makes him stick out. He added 15 pounds in the offseason, working out at the highly regarded Nevels Fitness in Newport.
His ball hawking skills really shined in 2023, picking off four passes and making 24 tackles. College programs then started calling. He was making daily, weekly visits to programs and camps around the country and not only has it boosted his confidence, but the knowledge gained throughout the process has been invaluable.
“It’s been really exciting, been able to go to a lot of different places, lot of different camps,” Brown said. “It helps me out because I can come back to the guys in my position groups, my teammates because I’ve seen some of the next level camps and next level coaches.”
As his production has increased on the field last season, so has his leadership off of it, selected as one of four captains for the Jaguars this season.
“Isaac had a tremendous season last year and a great offseason,” Borchers said. “He’s one of our leaders and ready to see him take the next step.”
Much like Brown, Cooper is poised for a big season. They return the majority of their starters coming off a 12-3 season and a run to the state championship game.
Brown has also been a key reserve for the Jaguars basketball team the past two seasons in which they’ve won back-to-back 33rd District championships and finished runner-up in the region. He’s regarded as one of the team’s top defenders, the football field translating to the basketball court. He improved his 3-point percentage in his junior year and was second on the team hitting 80% of his free throws in the 2023-24 season.
Much like what he’s done on the football field, his ability to soak in the knowledge on the basketball court has been vital for his progression.
“A kid that sits back and absorbs it,” Jaguars basketball coach Tim Sullivan said in a preseason interview prior to last year’s season. “His mom and dad are both coaches, he’s been around it and gives you nothing but good things. Him playing football and being physical helps and we’re really excited about him.”
What can Brown do for you as UPS has coin phrased the question? Well, for Cooper High School, a lot of things.