Isaac Vizcarra could enjoy a breakout year with Ceres High School’s football program this fall.

The 5-foot-6 170-pound senior is a different player heading into his final season thanks to experience gained as a junior and a tireless work ethic that helped transform his physique.

“I’m definitely bigger, stronger and faster,” said Vizcarra, who will start at running back and outside linebacker. “I’m going to see how that translates onto the field.”

Vizcarra added 30 pounds of muscle during the offseason.

He improved his squat from 315 to 365 pounds, deadlift from 370 to 405, bench press from 250 to 280, power clean from 205 to 225 and push press from 170 to 180 in a one-year span.

“I worked out every day,” he said. “I think it’s going to help a lot. I’m excited to see how much better I can get.”

 Bulldog teammates nicknamed Vizcarra “Mini Pekka” because of his short, muscular stature.

 Mini Pekka is a character in the video game Clash Royale.

“They call me that all the time,” he said. “I think it’s funny. It’s a fitting nickname. I’m small but strong.”

Vizcarra played offensive line during his first season of organized football 10 years ago with the Ceres Seahawks.

“I was a little chubby back then,” he said. “They had me at guard. It was a good fit.”

Vizcarra was Ceres High’s top running back as a junior.

He led the Bulldogs in carries (110), rushing yards (417) and rushing touchdowns (3).

Vizcarra had 29 tackles, two quarterback hurries, one sack, one forced fumble and one pass deflection on defense.

His yards per carry dropped from 7.3 to 3.8 while making the transition from JV to varsity.

“I was really undersized,” Vizcarra said. “It took me by surprise at how much stronger everybody was.”

A bulked-up Vizcarra is prepared to have an increased workload on the offensive side of the ball this season.

“I’ve been playing football for 10 years,” he said. “I have a lot of experience. I’m confident. I don’t worry about anything else but making sure my job gets done right.”

Vizcarra is looking forward to seeing how Ceres High’s new-look offense operates under first-year coordinator Debin Cowell’s guidance.

“I’m going to get a lot of touches,” he said. “I’m excited.”

Cowell, a 1999 Ceres High grad and 2018 Bulldog Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, helped coach football at crosstown-rival Central Valley High School for 13 years.

He earned seven varsity letters at Ceres High, including three in football.

Cowell starred at quarterback junior and senior years. He garnered first-team all-Central California Conference honors both seasons.

Cowell was a two-time all-conference receiver at Modesto Junior College. He was a first-team all-Northern California selection as a sophomore.

Cowell transferred to NCAA Division-I San Jose State, where he played in three games before suffering a season-ending injury.

“The change is what we need,” Vizcarra said. “Coach Cowell is a great coach. He knows what he’s doing. He’s competitive. He wants us to succeed. As long as you’re paying attention and not making mistakes, he’s pretty chill.”

Strong offensive line play will be key to Ceres High’s success. Third-year starter Elias Carrera will lead the way.

“I’m pretty confident in them,” Vizcarra said. “We’re a little undersized but we have good athletes. We make up for size with speed.”

When asked to describe himself as a player, Vizcarra said: “I’m a quiet person off the field. On the field, I like to get vocal and hype my teammates up. I like encouraging everybody. I like learning. I enjoy asking questions. I want to get better.”

Vizcarra will fill a major role as the Bulldogs strive for their fourth-straight Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth.

“Thinking about this being my last year with my coaches and teammates, I get emotional,” he said. “I just want to ball out. It’s a team sport. I want to see us all do better than we did last year.”

Football wasn’t always Vizcarra’s main sport.

He used to be a boxer.

“I switched over to football,” Vizcarra said. “I like hitting people. It’s a stress reliever. It’s really fun. I can’t say there was ever a time I wanted to quit. I love everything about the sport.”