BYU Football Goes Into Transfer Portal Lands WR Brothers Puka, Samson Nacua
Mar 8, 2021, 6:57 PM | Updated: 8:32 pm
Brothers Puka Nacua and Samson Nacua are headed to BYU Football. (Photos Getty Images)
(Photos Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – BYU football has added a pair of transfer wide receivers in Puka and Samson Nacua.
Samson Nacua is a graduate transfer from the University of Utah and Puka Nacua entered the Transfer Portal over the weekend from the University of Washington. Puka Nacua announced the commitments on his personal Instagram page.
BREAKING: Puka Nacua and Samson Nacua are transferring to #BYU. pic.twitter.com/DILws8oVy8
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 9, 2021
Older brother Samson will be eligible immediately for the 2021 season. Puka Nacua will have to sit out one year due to NCAA transfer rules. The NCAA is expected to have a vote on potentially allowing players to have a one-time waiver for a transfer in April after the Final Four.
Puka and Samson are younger brothers to former BYU player and current San Francisco 49er Kai Nacua and former BYU signee Isaiah Nacua.
Puka Nacua Bio
A former four-star recruit out of Orem High School in the class of 2019. Nacua is a 6-foot-1, 210-pound receiver who was a four-star recruit coming out of Orem. Originally committed to USC, Nacua de-committed from the Trojans and ended up signing with Washington in an announcement made on KSL Sports.
During his freshman season with the Huskies in 2019, he played in eight games and started in three. During a shortened 2020 season, Nacua appeared in three games as a backup for the Huskies. This past season, Nacua was limited by a foot injury he suffered during fall camp.
Former @OremTigerFball star Puka Nacua (@AsapPuka) has confirmed to the Seattle Times that he has entered the transfer portal.https://t.co/8dh8Ngv4JL
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 7, 2021
In two years at Montlake, Puka totaled 16 receptions for 319 yards and three touchdowns. That’s good for 19.9 yards per catch.
One of the top wide receiver talents the state of Utah has ever produced. Nacua was recruited by BYU when he was a freshman and appeared in the Cougars final five out of high school.
“If you have eyes, you watched what he did in high school football. Amazing player. Amazing talent. I know him probably more personally because I’ve coached his brothers. I had Kai here. So he has that toughness that comes with that family. Just a great kid,” said BYU head coach Kalani Sitake in 2019 before the Cougars game against Washington.
Puka Nacua proving why he was selected as the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame HS Co-Player of the Year. INCREDIBLE TD GRAB. TONY TOE TAP!!! @AsapPuka @PolynesianFBHOF @247Sports @BrandonHuffman @bangulo @FootballRecruit @usatodayhss pic.twitter.com/QAPm4ljhHG
— Polynesian Bowl (@polynesiabowl) January 20, 2019
Nacua trained with former BYU wide receiver Ross Apo and he also got work with former BYU quarterback Zach Wilson. A Polynesian Bowl selection, Nacua formed a relationship with current BYU quarterback Jacob Conover. Including an impressive toe-tap touchdown grab from Conover.
Puka Nacua will be a true sophomore this year with BYU with four years to play three.
Samson Nacua Bio
Samson Nacua comes to BYU as a graduate transfer from the University of Utah. Nacua prepped at Timpview High School and was a member of Utah’s recruiting class in 2016. Coming out of nearby Timpview, Nacua didn’t receive an offer from BYU.
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He signed with Utah as a preferred walk-on and once enrolled he received a scholarship from the Utes.
Samson Nacua's first TD of the year is a 52-yard DIME from Tyler Huntley. 👌@Utah_Football back on top in SLC.
📺 FS1 pic.twitter.com/QpiFvtRI8F
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 29, 2019
In four years at Utah, Nacua totaled 1,015 yards, 11 touchdowns on 82 receptions. He averaged 12.4 yards per catch. His best season was in 2018 where he played in all 14 games for the Utes and had five touchdown grabs.
During a shortened 2020 season with the Utes, Samson appeared in three games playing a total of 51 snaps. He finished seventh on the Utes in receiving yards with four catches for 29 yards.
Samson Nacua will have only one year of eligibility to play at BYU this fall. He is the second grad transfer from the University of Utah this season to BYU. The other is Mufi Hill-Hunt who is currently enrolled and competing in spring football.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.
