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UGA's Mecole Hardman, Isaac Nauta pondering NFL moves after Sugar Bowl

This NFL speculation comes with the territory of coach Kirby Smart consistently plucking elite-level athletes from the high school ranks.

On Thursday, the UGA football team had to deal with imminent distraction of All-SEC cornerback Deandre Baker skipping the Sugar Bowl, as a means of preserving his stock for the upcoming NFL draft.

Things were slightly less tense on Friday, as the go-pro attention shifted to receiver Mecole Hardman and tight end Isaac Nauta. 

The short-term reasoning: Both draft-eligible juniors have committed to playing Tuesday night versus No. 15 Texas. 

 But after that, who knows?

Hardman's 2018 numbers (34 catches, 540 yards, 7 total TDs) suggest a possible return for his senior campaign. 

But then again, he possesses all the necessary traits of a long-term NFL prospect, in terms of having supreme quickness, game-breaking speed (versus Alabama), solid hands and pro-ready skills with kickoff and punt returns.

Plus, NFL scouts will likely consider how the Bulldogs are loaded with elite athletes at the skill positions, perhaps explaining why Hardman never collected seven or more receptions in a college outing.

"I'm undecided" about leaving early, said Hardman on Friday. He acknowledged getting feedback from the NFL draft-advisory committee, but also hasn't delved into the specifics of the report.

"You just want to focus on what's ahead of you (bowl game, possible NFL combine) and go from there," said Hardman from New Orleans, while lamenting how it might be an easier call with someone earmarked to be a high pick in Round 1.

Nauta should have an easier choice to make, in the aftermath of Georgia-Texas.

The NFL desperately needs an influx of potentially top-shelf tight ends (especially in the fantasy community), and Nauta (29 catches, 427 yards, 4 total TDs in 2018) has the requisite hands, speed, power, size (6-foot-4, 240 pounds) and route-running acumen of a long-term NFL performer.

What's more, Nauta has an uncanny knack of making solid decisions on the fly ... as evidenced by his fumble-recovery/touchdown run during the fall.

Does he have the physical upside to be a Day 1 or Day 2 selection in the spring, though? That's the pressing question.

"It's important for this team to finish strong and send the seniors out on the right way," said Nauta on Friday. "I'll handle all that after the bowl game."

Similar to Hardman, Nauta has received feedback from the draft advisory committee, but has yet to read the judgments.

Head coach Kirby Smart certainly trains his players well, even if they're not being completely upfront with the media.

"You just focus on the right stuff right now, and live in the moment," says Nauta.

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