NCAA Division III Belhaven University recently reached down to Bogue Chitto and picked up a big Bobcat for its next football recruiting class with the signing of senior Isaiah Collins.

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Collins has been a guy opposing teams notice getting off the bus for sever-al years.

Collins has made an impact on Bobcat football as a running back, linebacker, and defensive end. He’s a multi-sport athlete as well, playing basketball and baseball for Bogue Chitto too.

At Belhaven, he’ll join a program led by second year head coach CJ Nightingale. The Blazers went 5-5 in their first season for Nightingale, who replaced Blaine McCorkle. McCorkle led Belhaven to a 9-2 finish in 2023 and was subsequently hired to be the head football coach at Northwestern State University in Louisiana.

There are a variety of places that Collins could be useful for Belhaven over the course of his career as he continues to grow and mature.

Bogue Chitto coach BJ Smithhart replaced Gareth Sartin as the head coach of the Bobcats last sea-son. In just one season of coaching Collins, Smithhart came away impressed by the intangibles the future Blazer will bring to his new team.

“Isaiah is a team first guy that really handled a coaching change before his senior year well,” said Smithhart. “He led us like he should and he’s a really good football player. Bigger than that though, he’s an even better person and we’re all proud for him.”