Florida Gators head football coach Jim McElwain has always been known for his use of the tight ends in his offense and that has continued for the Florida Gators this season. The promise of being featured in his offense lured several tight end prospects to campus on Saturday.
Tight end Isaac Nauta (6-4, 235, Bradenton, FL IMG Academy) was on an unofficial visit to Florida on Saturday and he enjoyed the game.
“It was a great game and a nail bitter,” Nauta said. “It came down right to the end, really the last play of the game. I was really impressed and I had a lot of fun with this visit today.”
After the game was over Nauta was able to talk to Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain and he relayed the same message he has been saying for the last few months.
“Coach McElwain has been after me real hard lately,” Nauta said. “He just tells me that he needs me up here and that he can use me as a playmaker at tight end. I noticed that he’s using them a lot this year.”
Not only did Nauta notice the tight ends getting the ball on Saturday, he also noticed them getting the ball in big play moments.
“They were getting the tight ends the ball a lot,” he said. “They were going to them when they need a big play or a first down. I definitely wasn’t expecting to see them get the ball to the tight ends as much as they did but I was impressed by that.”
Heading into the unofficial visit to Florida on Saturday, Nauta had two things he wanted to see from the Florida Gators and he was able to see both of those things.
“I wanted to see what the atmosphere was like and what the Gators do,” Nauta on what he wanted to see. “I wanted to see what it was like and I wanted to see how they used the tight ends, so positives on both ends. It was probably the loudest I’ve heard in a long time, it was electric.”
While the Gators aren’t one of Nauta’s five official visits he has planned, there is a chance that the tight end could change up his plans.
“I already have all five officials set but I’ve got some thinking to do and there may be some changes,” he said. “Ole Miss, TCU, USC, Michigan and Georgia that’s all of my official visits but those might change now.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Nauta was very impressed by the Florida Gators offense on Saturday and the Gators very well could steal an official visit from someone. If the Gators are able to steal an official that would be huge for their chances here.