Isaac Nauta Ready to Get Rolling

This time a year ago, there were those who follow Georgia football, including yours truly, who wondered how much playing time tight end Isaac Nauta—then, a true freshman—would actually see for the Bulldogs.

While at the IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), although a five-star prospect considered the No. 18 overall recruit nationally according to Rivals, and one of only seven five-star tight ends during the Rivals era (beginning in 2002), Nauta arrived at Georgia in the winter of 2016 to a loaded tight ends unit. Returning to the group were Jeb Blazevich, a two-year starter; Jordan Davis, who made receptions each of the previous two seasons; Jackson Harris who, as a true freshman in 2015, had certainly proved to be capable at the position; and Charlie Woerner, the No. 8-ranked tight end prospect, was arriving that summer.

“I have high expectations for myself, so I just wanted to perform every time I got out there on the field,” said Nauta when asked if he recalled what he personally expected his first year at Georgia. “I didn’t have certain [personal goals]. I just wanted to be the best player I could be at Georgia, and help the team win.”

During the initial month of the 2016 campaign, the Bulldogs seldom threw to their tight ends, as the aforementioned quintet combined to make only nine receptions for 94 yards and no touchdowns in the season’s first four contests. However, beginning with the Tennessee game, and while distinguishing himself from the rest of the unit, Nauta was routinely targeted. He totaled a team-high 329 receiving yards on 25 receptions, including three touchdowns, the final nine games of the year. In making 29 catches for the season, which ranked third on the team while establishing a new school record for a freshman tight end, Nauta was named to several Freshman All-American squads, including those of the FWAA and Campus Insiders.

“I wound up having a pretty successful [freshman] year,” Nauta started. “But, this year is going to be the next step for me—to go even bigger than what I did last year. And, I definitely think that’s in the making because I’m a lot more experienced.”

Nauta admits that he believed he was an acceptable blocker coming out of high school; however, at the big-time college level, he soon realized that blocking may have been the weakest aspect of his game. Last season, even towards the end of the year, Nauta conceded he still had a lot to learn and much to improve upon. First and foremost, he needed to be more physical.

Fast forward roughly eight months, Kirby Smart recently indicated Nauta had gained maturity and physicality—“down there in the trenches competing (blocking well), doing a good job,” according to the head coach. Nauta added that he has also improved his footwork, hand placement, and reading coverages since the end of last season.

Accordingly, considering his apparent improvement upon what was a standout freshman campaign, does Nauta foresee an even better season for him in 2017? Notably, for a second year, he is again grouped with returnees Blazevich, Davis, Harris, and Woerner—what Nauta declared as “one of the best, if not the best” tight end units in college football. Still, is he capable of the near-extraordinary, like leading the Bulldogs in receiving this season (something a Georgia tight end hasn’t done in more than a decade)?

“Man, that’d be awesome (leading the team in receiving), but I obviously just want to do whatever it takes to help the team win,” Nauta said. “I’m going to try to get open every time I run a pass route, and I’m going to catch it every time it’s thrown to me—that’s my goal, and my expectations.”

Entering this season, Nauta realizes there is more pressure on him—much more—compared to a year ago, while many are expecting a lot from the mere sophomore. For instance, he was one of just two offensive players from Georgia selected to the media’s First Team All-SEC squad—and, only one tight end from the school has finished a season chosen consensus first-team all-conference since 2005 (Orson Charles, 2011). Yet, above all, it’s clear who expects the most from Nauta as he encounters Year Two of his Bulldog career.

“Nobody’s got higher [expectations of myself] than me,” Nauta proclaimed, “and I’m ready to get rolling!”