TE Nauta looks to build on solid debut

ATHENS — Isaac Nauta did the usual thing when recalling himself as a freshman last year: wide-eyed, inexperienced and “running around pretty much not having any idea what was going on.”

But there was something else Nauta was his first season at Georgia: too good not to play.

The five-star prospect walked into a tight end unit already fairly loaded with experience, with an established starter, but when you’re as skilled as Nauta, the coaches find room for you. He ended up the team’s third-leading receiver overall and easily the top tight end. Strong and athletic for his size (6-foot-4 and 246 pounds), Nauta was a mismatch for defenses and became a favorite target for quarterback and fellow freshman Jacob Eason.

And given that was just as a freshman, perhaps in all the discussion over where Georgia will turn for its passing game next season, Nauta is being overlooked.

“Yeah, I definitely feel like I can be that guy,” Nauta said. “That’s one of my goals is to get open, catch the ball to make plays and help this team win. But we’ve also got a bunch of guys that can make plays. Like I said, whatever we’ve got to do, whatever I’ve got to do, to help this team win, that’s what we’re going to do.”

The right things to say, obviously. Nauta also said the right things about improving next season because for all his success last season (29 catches for 361 yards and three touchdowns) there were areas to firm up. Eliminate a few drops. Help in run-blocking.

“I just need to finish blocks better. That’s just something I felt like I needed to do,” Nauta said. “Catch everything that’s thrown my way. I had no excuses for dropping passes. And just being a good leader, for one. I just feel I need to start talking more, and get more involved in that area. And just being a good teammate.”

Nauta succeeded last season basically on pure athletic ability and composure. That comes across in interviews: He’s polished and used to attention after years as a sought-after recruit, first at Buford High School and then his senior year at IMG Academy.

“Nothing spooks him,” fellow tight end Jeb Blazevich said. “I feel like the bigger the stage the better he plays.”

Nauta and fellow sophomore Charlie Woerner are both nontraditional tight ends, smaller and more athletic, which is a mismatch when they’re running routes, but can be a disadvantage on other plays.

“That’s almost the hard part, I feel like,” Blazevich said. “What’s their niche on the team, what can they kind of fit into in terms of roles? Do you want them to bulk up, because they can be big guys and fit on the line? They can be speedy guys and flex out to wide receiver. Do you want them to be in the middle there? Athletically they can fulfill a bunch of different roles, so it’s just finding out what their bodies are going to develop into, and their skill set, and then using that to benefit the offense.”

With Nauta’s talent, you don’t want to take away from what he does very well: make big catches and big plays.

“I definitely need to make a big step in Year 2,” Nauta said.