It’s fairly unusual for a junior in high school to commit to a school before visiting the campus, but that is exactly what 6-foot-4, 240-pound 2014 Estero (Fla.) tight end Nick Nataro did.
“I haven’t been out to the campus yet, but it just felt natural to become a Wildcat,” Nataro said. “The coaches called my coaches earlier this month and said I have an offer. I didn’t have to think about it too much at the time."
The more Nataro listened, the more he realized that he would fit in well with Arizona's offense.
"The coaches told me they thought I would be an ideal player for their offense because I can play multiple positions," he said. "They said they could see my playing some tight end along with receiver and some half back.”
In addition, Nataro likes the fact that the coaching staff let him know he will have to work for playing time once he arrives on campus.
“They told me that no starting spots are promised and that everyone comes into practice with a clean slate," he said. "That’s all you want to hear as a competitor.
"If I go in and I’m not ready to contribute, I will work my butt off to get to that point. I trust the coaches because they know what they are doing.”
Nataro was not sure how his recruitment would play out, but he did have an idea he would get it done with early.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to drag the process on if I didn’t need to,” Nataro said. “I was getting interest from some SEC schools, but nobody came after me like Arizona.
"I wasn’t going to commit just to commit, but if I found the school that felt right I knew I could commit early."
As it turns out, Arizona is that school that feels right for Nataro.
“Arizona fit all the criteria I was looking for," Nataro said. "There is a good coach in place who runs a fun offense and the school is in a major conference.
"I can’t wait to get out there and see everything for myself. We’re working on it. Hopefully I can get out there sometime soon.”