After helping the Alabama State Hornets tame Jackson State’s dangerous offense for large parts of Saturday’s 26-12 loss, cornerback Keenan Isaac has been named the Shrine Bowl HBCU Defensive Player of the Week.
One half of an Alabama State defensive back duo that is on the Shrine Bowl 1000 Watchlist, Isaac took home the weekly honor as he continues to showcase a skill set that could make him very appealing to teams in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Week 6 Shrine Bowl HBCU Defensive Player of the Week: Alabama State CB Keenan Isaac
Shedeur Sanders and the Jackson State offense have been an unstoppable force for large swathes of the 2022 college football season. Yet, for the best part of three quarters in their 26-12 win, they struggled to penetrate a ferocious Alabama State defense led by cornerback Isaac. The Tigers were held scoreless in the first quarter, and Sanders didn’t fire off his second score of the game until the final two minutes of the third quarter.
Isaac was named the Shrine Bowl HBCU Defensive Player of the Week for his part in helping tame the Tigers’ offense. The Alabama State senior cornerback intercepted the highly rated Jackson State quarterback early in the third quarter. He also added three pass breakups and four tackles as the Hornets’ defensive back showcased his skills in arguably the biggest game of Alabama State’s season (which was televised on ESPN3).
Isaac’s third-quarter interception was his second in as many games, with the Alabama State cornerback logging an interception against Texas Southern. The pick was the third of his career, while his six pass breakups are close to previous season highs (and Alabama St. has five games still to play).
Statistically, Isaac is peaking at the right time, but the skill set beyond the box score is what’s earning him attention as a potential HBCU prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft.
“Keenan Isaac is an intriguing defensive back prospect out of Alabama State University,” Draft HBCU scout and defensive line coach Gerald J. Huggins Jr. told Pro Football Network when discussing the Alabama State CB’s selection as the Shrine Bowl HBCU Defensive Player of the Week.
As part of their recently announced partnership, Draft HBCU is helping the Shrine Bowl identify and elevate HBCU players for the 2023 NFL Draft class to give them the platform they deserve.
“He’s a player that one can’t just look at stats to appreciate how well he plays.”
MORE: Shrine Bowl HBCU Offensive Player of the Week
Statistics help paint a picture of a prospect, but they’re only a small part of the overall puzzle. Especially at the cornerback position, interceptions and pass-breakup totals can be misleading and not truly indicative of a player’s ability to play the game.
At the “FCS and beyond” level, dominating the box score can help put you on the national radar. Snagging an interception against a blossoming HBCU powerhouse won’t harm Isaac’s cause. However, how he goes about his business is truly exciting.
“He’s a big corner at 6’3″, 190 lbs, but he equips fluid hips, quick feet, and speed that you don’t see from many taller defensive backs,” Huggins continues his appraisal. “Isaac seems comfortable and consistent in his backpedal, with the ability to flip his hips smoothly in either direction. Isaac plays with smoothness and poise that you like to see out of defensive backs. He also possesses good reaction time when breaking on the ball.”
Isaac’s athletic prowess should come as no surprise. The Shrine Bowl HBCU Defensive Player of the Week was a two-sport star for Midfield High School who put his athleticism to good use as a two-way player on the football field. While earning second-team All-State honors as a senior, he enjoyed success on the hard court. His basketball background is evident in how he plays the cornerback position at the college football level.
Opting for Alabama State over Middle Tennessee and Alabama A&M — his father is a Bulldogs alumni — out of Midfield, Isaac has become an integral part of the Hornets program both on and off the field.
“He is a great student athlete and humble young man,” Alabama State defensive backs coach James Williams told Pro Football Network. “Everything he does is working towards being the best. I’m blessed to be able to coach such a talented young man. There is no better DB in our conference nor in all of FCS football.”
Isaac has certainly been a prominent playmaker for the Hornets both in coverage and against the run, with multiple tackles for loss a testament to his ability to impact the game behind the line of scrimmage. The disruption of the 2020 season limited his development. Still, he’s also had opportunities against Power Five opponents like Auburn and UCLA to demonstrate that he has the tools to play at a higher level.
6’3″, 190-pound cornerbacks with his level of athleticism are hard to find. As the NFL gambles on bigger defensive backs with high-level athletic ability — like former UTSA standout Tariq Woolen — Isaac is sure to attract some attention in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. The Week 6 Shrine Bowl HBCU Defensive Player of the Week is certainly a name to know ahead of next April.
“He’s still raw in certain aspects,” Huggins concludes his assessment on Isaac. “But his ceiling makes him a prospect one must keep an eye on.”