A North Alton resident, the Grade 12 student at Horton High played his third season of football for the Griffins this past fall. He was the NSSAFFL D-1 Lineman of the Year, and a D-1 all-star at defensive end.
He is a starter on the Horton D-1 boys' basketball team, played rugby last spring, and is also a veteran track and field performer, specializing in the throwing events. At the same time, as the third of four football-playing brothers, there's no question where his real allegiances lie.
“We're an athletic family,” he says. “All four of us (older brothers Adam and Jacob and younger brother, Caleb) play football, and our Dad coaches.”
Their father, Steve, played football while a student at Acadia, and has since coached football at the minor, high school and provincial levels. He is currently head coach of the Horton team.
Oldest brother Adam currently plays football at Acadia. He is a former AUFC Rookie of the Year, and this past season, was chosen a second-team all-Canadian defensive lineman.
Second brother, Jacob, played defensive line, receiver and even quarterback for part of one season during his career with the Griffins.
His playing career now over; Jacob serves as a football Griffins' assistant coach. Caleb began the 2015 season as Horton's starting quarterback.
Isaac is close to all his brothers. He admitted, “I definitely feel some pressure being Adam's younger brother,” especially where they are both defensive linemen.
“I'm a different kind of player than he is – I'm longer and faster, and a pass rusher instead of going more for quarterback sacks like Adam does.”
Given his family's love of football, it is no surprise Melanson has been playing since he was eight years old, beginning with the Valley Bulldogs.
“I played seven years with the Bulldogs and I've played three seasons with Horton, which means I've been playing football for 10 years.”
He’s also an enthusiastic and talented basketball player, and has played on the Horton D-1 team since Grade 9.
The Melanson brothers get their love of (and aptitude for) basketball from their maternal grandfather, Frank Harlow, a legendary high school basketball coach for many years in various parts of Nova Scotia.
“I like basketball, too,” Isaac says, “but I've liked football from the start. I like that it's different than a lot of other sports. I love being part of the team – 12 guys playing together as one in order to succeed.”
The bantam Bulldogs won provincials in Melanson's final year in minor football, and for good measure, he also won a provincial title in basketball that same year with the Valley Heat. In his Grade 10 year at Horton, the Griffins qualified for the D-1 playoffs.
He’s unsure of his plans for after high school but says, “I'll be going to university and playing football somewhere. I don't know where yet.”
Over the past few months, he has attracted a lot of interest from university football teams throughout eastern Canada and beyond.
“I have some visits planned for January - to Western, Guelph and Ottawa,” all in Ontario, “and to some AUS schools, which I'll be able to do with daytime visits.”
With Isaac's combination of size (his profile lists him as 6'3”, 215 pounds) and speed (a time of 4.66 seconds in the 40-yard dash), it is no surprise he has generated interest in CIS circles and is a sought-after recruit.
His goal, he says, “is to play defensive line in university. My preference would be defensive end, as a pass rusher,” he says.
“By the time I'm done university, I'd like to be 240 to 245 pounds.”
As for long-term goals, Melanson is quite certain and specific.
“I'd like to be able to play in the CFL someday. That's my ultimate goal.”
As for his studies, Melanson is entertaining the idea of majoring in sociology.
“I'd eventually like to get into some kind of social work. I like working with people.”
A North Alton resident, the Grade 12 student at Horton High played his third season of football for the Griffins this past fall. He was the NSSAFFL D-1 Lineman of the Year, and a D-1 all-star at defensive end.
He is a starter on the Horton D-1 boys' basketball team, played rugby last spring, and is also a veteran track and field performer, specializing in the throwing events. At the same time, as the third of four football-playing brothers, there's no question where his real allegiances lie.
“We're an athletic family,” he says. “All four of us (older brothers Adam and Jacob and younger brother, Caleb) play football, and our Dad coaches.”
Their father, Steve, played football while a student at Acadia, and has since coached football at the minor, high school and provincial levels. He is currently head coach of the Horton team.
Oldest brother Adam currently plays football at Acadia. He is a former AUFC Rookie of the Year, and this past season, was chosen a second-team all-Canadian defensive lineman.
Second brother, Jacob, played defensive line, receiver and even quarterback for part of one season during his career with the Griffins.
His playing career now over; Jacob serves as a football Griffins' assistant coach. Caleb began the 2015 season as Horton's starting quarterback.
Isaac is close to all his brothers. He admitted, “I definitely feel some pressure being Adam's younger brother,” especially where they are both defensive linemen.
“I'm a different kind of player than he is – I'm longer and faster, and a pass rusher instead of going more for quarterback sacks like Adam does.”
Given his family's love of football, it is no surprise Melanson has been playing since he was eight years old, beginning with the Valley Bulldogs.
“I played seven years with the Bulldogs and I've played three seasons with Horton, which means I've been playing football for 10 years.”
He’s also an enthusiastic and talented basketball player, and has played on the Horton D-1 team since Grade 9.
The Melanson brothers get their love of (and aptitude for) basketball from their maternal grandfather, Frank Harlow, a legendary high school basketball coach for many years in various parts of Nova Scotia.
“I like basketball, too,” Isaac says, “but I've liked football from the start. I like that it's different than a lot of other sports. I love being part of the team – 12 guys playing together as one in order to succeed.”
The bantam Bulldogs won provincials in Melanson's final year in minor football, and for good measure, he also won a provincial title in basketball that same year with the Valley Heat. In his Grade 10 year at Horton, the Griffins qualified for the D-1 playoffs.
He’s unsure of his plans for after high school but says, “I'll be going to university and playing football somewhere. I don't know where yet.”
Over the past few months, he has attracted a lot of interest from university football teams throughout eastern Canada and beyond.
“I have some visits planned for January - to Western, Guelph and Ottawa,” all in Ontario, “and to some AUS schools, which I'll be able to do with daytime visits.”
With Isaac's combination of size (his profile lists him as 6'3”, 215 pounds) and speed (a time of 4.66 seconds in the 40-yard dash), it is no surprise he has generated interest in CIS circles and is a sought-after recruit.
His goal, he says, “is to play defensive line in university. My preference would be defensive end, as a pass rusher,” he says.
“By the time I'm done university, I'd like to be 240 to 245 pounds.”
As for long-term goals, Melanson is quite certain and specific.
“I'd like to be able to play in the CFL someday. That's my ultimate goal.”
As for his studies, Melanson is entertaining the idea of majoring in sociology.
“I'd eventually like to get into some kind of social work. I like working with people.”
