Puka Nacua On BYU Offense In 2022: ‘We’ve Got A Lot Of Stuff In Store’
Jun 14, 2022, 12:54 PM | Updated: 12:55 pm
BYU football wide receiver Puka Nacua is a huge piece to the Cougars high-powered offense in 2022. (Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Puka Nacua enters his second season at BYU with heightened expectations.
Last season, the former Orem High star and Washington transfer produced 43 catches for 805 yards and six touchdowns while battling a nagging hamstring injury. So what’s next for him and BYU football in 2022?
Nacua, who was on The Zone’s DJ & PK to discuss his involvement with “Kids On The Move,” a walk for Autism this Saturday in Orem, has high expectations for this BYU offense.
A big reason for Nacua’s optimism is because the man throwing him passes is back. Jaren Hall returns with the potential of being a top signal-caller in college football this season.
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Last season, Hall passed for 2,583 yards and completed 64% of his passes while throwing a four-to-one touchdown to interception ratio. That all happened in his first year as the full-time starter at BYU.
Puka Nacua on his growth with BYU QB Jaren Hall
Nacua, who referred to Hall as the “Utah Breaker” during his interview with DJ & PK, was asked how it’s been working with the fifth-year QB now that they’ve had a year together in Aaron Roderick’s offense.
“It’s been so fun. This is my first full, healthy offseason and to go through spring ball and get those extra reps of playing real-time football with him, then just being in the summertime, we’ve got a good squad. I’m excited for it,” Nacua said. “Just getting down and being able to understand what he’s thinking and for us to be on the same exact page when we’re out there on the field.”
Good to be back ⌛️ pic.twitter.com/q4EvrrChTh
— Jaren Hall (@jarenhall3) March 2, 2022
Along with Nacua and Hall, BYU returns numerous key personnel from an offense that was 17th nationally in total offense (452.6 yards per game) a season ago. Entering the 2022 season, BYU is No. 2 among teams with the most returning production.
Nacua won’t be the only pass catcher that Hall will have to target. Gunner Romney surprisingly returned for one final season after navigating last season with multiple injuries. Big-bodied receiver Keanu Hill returns, and rising freshmen Chase Roberts and Kody Epps are also in the mix. Plus, the Cougars feature a pair of starters at tight end in Isaac Rex, who’s coming back from a devastating injury, and Dallin Holker, who shined in spring ball.
Nacua concluded, “Me, him (Jaren Hall), and Gunner [Romney], and our whole entire offense, we’ve got a lot of stuff in store.”
About Kids On The Move
Puka Nacua is among the BYU and Utah athletes that will be participating in the Kids On The Move: Walk for Autism.
Date: Saturday, June 18, 2022
Time: 8 a.m.-10 a.m. (MDT)
Location: Kids On The Move (475 Hospital Dr.; Orem, Utah)
Join Kids On The Move for our 1 mile WALK FOR AUTISM on June 18, 2022 from 8-10am. Fun for the WHOLE FAMILY! Enjoy food trucks, bounce houses, activities, raffles, meet and great with your favorite college athletes, and so much more! Register at https://t.co/wz7AQ4OrLi 🤩 pic.twitter.com/Qy7UZNaJsi
— Kids On The Move (@kotm_utah) June 6, 2022
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.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
