Puka Nacua

Makea Puka Nacua (born May 29, 2001; pronounced /ˈpuːkə nəˈkuːə/[1]) is an American football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington and BYU.

Puka Nacua
No. 17 – Los Angeles Rams
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (2001-05-29) May 29, 2001
Provo, Utah, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:Orem (UT)
College:Washington (2019–2020)
BYU (2021–2022)
NFL Draft:2023 / Round: 5 / Pick: 177
Career history
Roster status:Unsigned draft pick
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life and high school

Nacua grew up in Provo, Utah and attended Orem High School in Orem, Utah.[2] Nacua finished his high school career with 260 catches, 5,226 receiving yards, and 58 receiving touchdowns, all of which are Utah state records.[3][4]

College career

Washington

Nacua began his college career at Washington. He played in the first eight games of his freshman season and caught seven passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns before suffering a broken foot.[5] Nacua had nine receptions for 151 yards and one touchdown in three games during the team's COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.[6] Following the end of the season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal.[7]

BYU

Nacua ultimately transferred to BYU.[8] In his first season with the team, he caught 40 passes for 805 yards and six touchdowns.[9]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 1+5⁄8 in
(1.87 m)		 201 lb
(91 kg)		 31+1⁄2 in
(0.80 m)		 9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		4.57 s1.62 s2.64 s4.36 s7.32 s33.0 in
(0.84 m)		10 ft 1 in
(3.07 m)		15 reps
Sources:[10][11]

Nacua was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams.[12]

Personal life

Nacua's older brother, Samson, also plays wide receiver he transferred from the University of Utah at the same time that Puka transferred from Washington.[13] Another older brother, Kai Nacua, played defensive back at BYU and in the National Football League (NFL).[14]

References
  1. MILE-WR Puka Nacua Interview. MILE-WR. 14 February 2018. Event occurs at 0:13. Retrieved 30 April 2023 – via YouTube.
  2. "Orem's Puka Nacua is the youngest of three standout football players ... and he may be the best of the three". The Salt Lake Tribune. August 10, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  3. "The wait is over. Four-star wide receiver Puka Nacua breaks silence and commits to Washington". The Seattle Times. February 10, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  4. "BYU football: How Puka Nacua is polishing craft during the offseason". Deseret News. February 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  5. "UW freshman wide receiver Puka Nacua will miss 4-5 weeks with a broken foot". The Seattle Times. November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  6. "BYU football: What will Puka Nacua and Samson Nacua bring to Cougars?". Deseret News. March 12, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  7. "'This is not how I wanted it to go': UW wide receiver Puka Nacua discusses decision to transfer to BYU". The Seattle Times. March 8, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  8. "Puka, Samson Nacua announce they're transferring to BYU". Deseret News. March 8, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  9. Thamel, Pete (September 9, 2022). "BYU receivers Puka Nacua, Gunner Romney to miss Saturday's game vs. Baylor due to injuries, sources say". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  10. "Puka Nacua Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  11. "2023 NFL Draft Scout Puka Nacua College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  12. "NFL draft: BYU's Freeland, Hall and Nacua are selected on third day, along with Utah's Phillips III and Daniels". The Salt Lake Tribune. April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  13. "Why did Samson and Puka Nacua leave their respective P5 football programs to play for BYU? It was all about family". The Salt Lake Tribune. April 9, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  14. "Samson and Puka Nacua feeling at home with BYU football". Daily Herald. June 25, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.