The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
PREP PROFILES Buford (Ga.) High's Isaac Nauta is one of the top prospects in the country at his position. Rivals.com considers him the No. 4 tight end in the country and the No. 63 over- all prospect in the class of 2016. The four-star recruit has more than 30 offers and will be able to go to virtually any school he wants to once he makes up his mind. That day is approaching fast. The 6-4, 249-pound tight end will be verbally pledging to the school of his choice Dec. 15, but as of mid-November he swore he still didn't know where that will be. "As of right now, I still don't know what I'm going to do," he said. "But I feel like by that time I will know and be ready to make my decision." Nauta spent the first eight years of his life growing up in Michigan. The U-M coaching staff offered Nauta when he was just a fresh - man, and he's always had great things to say about the Wolver- ines. "Coach [Greg] Mattison said that they actually don't offer kids as freshmen, so it was kind of a special for them," he said. "It was pretty humbling because appar- ently I was the first freshman that they've ever offered." That early impression really grabbed Nauta, but his Michigan roots aren't the only connection that he and his family have to the program. " M y u n c l e , J o e l S m e e n g e , played at Western Michigan, and I believe Coach Mattison was the D-line coach at Western then," Nauta explained. "He played for Coach Mattison and then ended up playing 12 years in the NFL. My uncle has told me many times that Coach Mattison is probably his favorite coach he's ever had." Nauta has always said that he'd like to visit U-M for a game, but it hasn't happened and it might not. He has a top four consisting of Florida State, South Carolina, Ole Miss and Georgia. He and his family are actually moving to Florida for his senior season, which has many people believing that Florida State is the eventual spot for him. Nauta will enroll at IMG Academy in Braden - ton, Fla., for his senior season and plans to graduate early. Whichever college he chooses next month, he'll show up in Janu- ary 2016 ready to make an impact. — Brandon Brown Peach State Tight End Will Decide Soon ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Buford High School Buford, Ga. Class: 2016 Position: Tight End Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 249 Rivals.com Rankings: No. 8 player in Georgia, No. 4 tight end in the land and No. 63 overall player in the country Isaac Nauta