Georgia Bulldogs Land No. 1 Tight End in 2016 Class with Isaac Nauta

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The long and winding high school football road and up and down recruiting path for Class of 2016 tight end Isaac Nauta came to an apparent end on Saturday when he verbally committed to the University of Georgia.

The commitment to Georgia is a homecoming of sorts for Nauta. The 6’4”, 240 pound, talent started his prep career at Buford High School, a powerhouse program in Georgia but was then supposed to transfer to a school in Jacksonville, Florida, during his junior school year. The move was not widely popular among Bulldogs fans, especially with Nauta committing to Florida State after listing Georgia among his Top 4 schools in 2014. Nauta ended up playing for IMG Academy during his senior season but did another curious thing, decommitted from the Seminoles.

When Nauta decommitted from FSU, he made his announcement on Twitter posting, “I would like to thank all of the coaches at FSU and #NoleNation as well for everything, but I have decommitted to make sure that I make the best possible decision for my future in becoming a man and developing as a student-athlete. Thank you!”

His senior season at IMG Academy was solid, especially considering all of the top talent brought into the Bradenton sports academy from around the nation. Nauta was paired with another 5-star recruit, quarterback Shea Patterson. The Patterson to Nauta connection was not as big of a weapon as one would guess in 2015 with the tight end pulling in 13 passes for 230 yards with two scores.

During the 2016 U.S. Army All-American Game, Nauta decided to go with another 5-star quarterback, Jacob Eason (Lake Stevens, WA) when committing to the Georgia Bulldogs. The Bulldogs won the Nauta sweepstakes over offers from 40-plus schools that included Auburn, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Florida, Clemson, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas A&M, USC, TCU, Tennessee, LSU, Miami, and Baylor. Nauta took official visits to Georgia (Oct. 2), Michigan (Oct. 16), Ole Miss (Oct. 23), Alabama (Nov. 6), and Oklahoma State (Nov. 26).

New Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has picked up two significant verbal commitments since taking, Deerfield Beach wide receiver Cavin Riley Ridley and Nauta. Another sales job was keeping Eason in the fold.

The Bulldogs now have 16 verbal commitments to their 2016 recruiting class.

Georgia 2016 Verbal Commitment List (16)

CB Chad Clay, 5’11, 170 lbs, Peactree Ridge HS, Suwanee, GA

CB Tyrique McGhee, 5’10”, 170 lbs, Peach County HS, Fort Valley, GA

DE Chauncey Manac, 6’3”, 252 lbs, Clinch County, Homerville, GA

DT Tyler Clark, 6’3”, 290 lbs, Americus Sumter, Americus, GA

DT Julian Rochester, 6’5”, 327 lbs, McEachern, Powder Springs, GA

LB Jaleel Laguins, 6’1”, 210 lbs, Oconee County, Watkinsville, GA

OG Chris Barnes, 6’3”, 274 lbs, Lee County, Leesburg, GA

OG Aaron Dowdell, 6’3”, 305 lbs, Creekside HS, Atlanta, GA

OT Ben Cleveland, 6’6”, 327 lbs, Stephens County, Toccoa, GA

QB Jacob Eason, 6’5”, 207 lbs, Lake Stevens HS, Lake Stevens, WA

RB Elijah Holyfield, 5’10”, 195 lbs, Woodward Academy, College Park, GA

TE Isaac Nauta, 6’4”, 240 lbs, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL

TE Charlie Woerner, 6’5”, 220 lbs, Rabun County HS, Tiger, GA

WR Randrecous Davis, 5’11”, 180 lbs, Mays HS, Atlanta, GA

WR Cavin Ridley, 6’1”, 190 lbs, Deerfield Beach HS, Deerfield Beach, FL

WR Javon Wims, 6’4”, 205 lbs, Hinds C.C., Raymond, MS

 

Photo credit: Photo credit: maxpreps.com; Isaac Nauta at IMG Academy.