Puka Nacua

Makea "Puka" Nacua (; born May 29, 2001) 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.

Early life and high school

Nacua is of Samoan, Hawaiian, and Portuguese descent. He acquired the nickname “Puka”, meaning fat and chubby in Samoan, due to his size as a baby. He grew up in Provo, Utah and attended Orem High School in Orem, Utah. Nacua finished his high school career with 260 catches, 5,226 receiving yards, and 58 receiving touchdowns, all of which are Utah state records.

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. Nacua had nine receptions for 151 yards and one touchdown in three games during the team's COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. Following the end of the season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal.

BYU

Nacua transferred to BYU for the 2021 season. In his first season with the team, he caught 43 passes for 805 yards and six touchdowns. In the 2022 season, he had 48 receptions for 625 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.

Statistics

Professional career

Nacua was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the fifth round, 177th overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Los Angeles Rams

2023 season

Nacua made his rookie debut as a starter for the Rams on September 10, 2023, against the rival Seattle Seahawks in Seattle. The Seahawks were heavy favorites because the Rams were coming off of an injury riddled 2022 season and the team was without star receiver Cooper Kupp, who had been sidelined with a hamstring injury. Despite this, Nacua was a formidable piece of the team's offense, making 10 catches for 119 yards in his debut as the Rams beat the Seahawks 30–13. Though he was first questionable with a rib injury, in his second game, Nacua broke the NFL single-game record for catches by a rookie as he caught 15 passes for 147 yards in a 30–23 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The 25 catches over his first two games was another rookie record, surpassing Earl Cooper's 43-year-old mark of 19, and he also became the first player to record more than 10 catches and more than 100 yards in each of his first two NFL games.

In a Week 4 game against the Indianapolis Colts, Nacua had nine receptions for 163 yards. Nacua got his first NFL touchdown in overtime on a 22-yard reception to beat the Colts 29–23. During Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Nacua finished with 154 receiving yards on eight receptions as the Rams lost 17–24.

Regular season

Personal life

Nacua's older brother, Samson, also plays wide receiver, and transferred from the University of Utah to BYU at the same time that Puka transferred from Washington. Samson went undrafted and had a stint with the Indianapolis Colts. Another older brother, Kai Nacua, played defensive back at BYU and in the National Football League (NFL).

Nacua played Pop Warner football with Dana White III, son of UFC CEO and President Dana White. The White family and Nacua have shared a close relationship since, with White Jr. showing support to Nacua on social media.

References

External links

Los Angeles Rams bioWashington Huskies bioBYU Cougars bio

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nacua, Puka
2001 births
Living people
Players of American football from Provo, Utah
American sportspeople of Samoan descent
American football wide receivers
BYU Cougars football players
Washington Huskies football players
Los Angeles Rams players