Isaac Nauta Tweets New Top 3: Odds on Where 5-Star TE Lands
Top-rated tight end recruit Isaac Nauta is nearing a collegiate decision, and he's paying particularly close attention to three programs.
The 5-star prospect, a senior at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, revealed Alabama, Georgia and Michigan as his favorites Sunday afternoon:
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"It's not easy, but I have to go with my gut," Nauta wrote.
His trimmed list of top choices leaves out a few notable universities. Oklahoma State and Ole Miss both hosted him for an official visit this season but didn't make the cut, while USC and TCU were cut from his initial official visit itinerary during the fall.
The Cowboys welcomed him to campus Thanksgiving weekend, when he witnessed a beatdown courtesy of playoff-bound Oklahoma. The Rebels secured an October visit and featured a compelling recruiting tool in 5-star quarterback commit Shea Patterson, who played alongside Nauta at IMG Academy.
The 6'4", 237-pound playmaker is listed No. 1 nationally among tight ends and No. 9 overall in 2016 class composite rankings. He previously pledged to Florida State last winter before backing off that commitment in late July and remains one of America's most coveted undecided talents.
Nauta plans to announce his collegiate intentions Jan. 9 during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. His pursuit of an ideal landing spot has led him to explore several options during a whirlwind process.
"I don't just want to be a guy who blocks. I want to make plays," he told Bleacher Report in September. "I'm looking for an offensive scheme that puts tight ends in position to get the ball in big situations."
Now that we have a better understanding of which teams are truly in this equation moving forward, let's assign odds to each option based on the likelihood he lands at that university.
Georgia: 2-1
Though Nauta's high school career wrapped up in the Sunshine State, he starred at Buford High School in Georgia before transferring last offseason. The Bulldogs became an immediate front-runner in the eyes of national recruiting analysts, claiming 79 percent of experts' predictions in his 247Sports Crystal Ball.
"Those are hometown fans for me. You can never go wrong with that," he told B/R. "Georgia is my home and I love it there. An opportunity to play college football in the state is something I have to consider."
That local appeal is difficult to overlook, along with a recently reaffirmed commitment from 5-star Bulldogs quarterback pledge Jacob Eason. Despite speculation that Eason may flip to Florida following the departure of longtime Georgia head coach Mark Richt, the Washington standout stuck with his plans and will enroll early with a shot at the starting job.
New head coach Kirby Smart, a staple of Nick Saban's staff in Alabama, made Nauta a top priority upon his arrival in Athens. An established rapport with the pivotal target should further fuel Georgia's ability to bring him into the fold.
"I’ve known Kirby Smart since my spring going into my freshman year,” Nauta told Jeff Sentell of DawgNation. “So he’s been on the recruiting trail for a while and I’ve taken a few visits to Alabama. He was actually the one who first offered me at Alabama. I’ve known him for a long time and I think it’s a huge pickup right there.”
Based on his high comfort level with the university and our discussions with multiple prospect peers who hope he ends up elsewhere but are realistic about the situation, it would be a surprise if Nauta spurned Georgia.
Michigan: 4-1
Jim Harbaugh already held the reputation of a head coach who likes to feature tight ends when he arrived in Ann Arbor. Wolverines starter Jake Butt, who finished second on the team with 48 receptions in 12 regular-season games, further solidifies that sentiment.
Michigan put Butt in position to earn Big Ten Conference Tight End of the Year honors, and he considered early entry into the NFL draft before deciding to return for his senior campaign, according to Angelique S. Chengelis of the Detroit News.
Butt received feedback that he would likely be selected in the draft's top three rounds, per Chengelis, providing proof that Harbaugh's tight ends will have an opportunity to gain attention from professional scouts. That's difficult to ignore for an elite talent such as Nauta, who naturally has similar ambitions.
“Coach Harbaugh, he’s really big on using the tight end,” he told B/R's Sanjay Kirpalani. “He’s proven it everywhere he’s been, whether that was in the NFL or at Stanford. He’s always used the tight end and it’s a pro scheme too, so that will prepare you for the league.”
Michigan hosted Nauta during the season and made a strong impression:
“They showed me a really good time. I knew I would like it up there, but I didn’t think I would like it as much as I did," he told Kirpalani.
Harbaugh reciprocated that visit with an October trip to IMG Academy, where he watched Nauta's squad face Paramus Catholic (New Jersey) and fellow 5-star Wolverines target Rashan Gary.
If he opts to attend college beyond his home state, our bet is Ann Arbor becomes the destination.
Alabama: 5-1
The Crimson Tide weren't set to receive an official visit from Nauta, but that outlooked changed in October. USC occupied the slot until the messy dismissal of head coach Steve Sarkisian shook things up.
Nauta altered plans and traveled to Tuscaloosa in November, watching Alabama make a major statement for postseason consideration with its victory over LSU.
Alabama reached into Georgia earlier this recruiting cycle for a commitment from 3-star tight end Miller Forristall, who is expected to participate in spring practice. Missouri product Brendan Scales is another pledge at the position, and both players are rated as top-20 tight ends in the 2016 class.
Though many figured Ole Miss was the most likely alternative SEC option aside from Georgia, due in large part to the presence of Patterson, the Crimson Tide coaching staff has gained steam. Like Georgia and Michigan, Alabama is in position to make a push for No. 1 overall recruiting class if Nauta jumps on board.
Saban has secured more 5-star athletes than any coach this decade, but it looks like an uphill battle to bag Nauta. At the very least, Alabama is significantly further along in this recruitment than ever appeared possible just months ago.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
