Pronunciation: POO-kuh Nah-KOO-uh
After BYU
Nacua was drafted 177th overall, in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. In his rookie season he set the NFL record for recptions in a rookie season (105), receiving yards in a rookie season (1,486), receptions by a rookie in a game (15) and receiving yards by a rookie in a playoff game (181). He was named second-team All-Pro, to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and played in the Pro Bowl.
BYU Highlights
Nacua played wide receiver at BYU from 2021-2022 and appeared in 21 games, including 14 starts. He totaled 1,430 yards on 91 receptions along with 11 touchdown grabs. Nacua's accomplished career includes the following highlights:
- Led the Cougars in receiving yards in 2021 and 2022. He battled through injuries in 2022 to lead BYU with 48 receptions for 625 yards and five touchdowns at 13 yards per grab and 69.4 yards per game. In 2021, he caught 43 passes for 805 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 18.7 yards a catch.
- In 2022, he compiled 834 all-purpose yards with 10 touchdowns in nine games.
- Seven games with more than 100 yards receiving.
- Nacua won many awards for his on-field performance, including Phil Steele All-Independent First Team (2021, 2022), College Football Network All-Independent Wide Receiver of the Year and All-Independent First Team (2022), Pro Football Network Independent Wide Receiver of the Year, First Team All-Independent Offense and Independent Newcomer of the Year (2021).
- Contributed on the ground, carrying the ball 39 times for 357 yards and five rushing touchdowns.
*See Year tab for additional information
Personal
- Major: Family Life
- Parents are Penina and the late Lionel Nacua
- Younger brother of former BYU football players Isaiah, Kai, and Samson Nacua
- Bowls about a 200 on average
Before BYU
- Played at Washington in 2019, 2020
- Totaled 11 games, 16 receptions, 319 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons at Washington
- Prepped at Orem HS
- MaxPreps.com and USA Today first-team All-America in 2018
- 2018 Utah Gatorade Player of the Year
- USA Today's All-Utah Offensive Player of the Year
- Named Utah's "Mr. Football" by the Deseret News
- Broke Utah state records for career receptions (260), yards (5,226) and receiving touchdowns (58)
- As a senior, caught 103 passes for 2,336 yards and 26 touchdowns, setting single-season state records in all three categories
- Scored a receiving touchdown in every game of his senior year
- Led the Tigers to a 12-2 overall record and the 4A state championship as a senior in 2018
- As a junior, caught 87 passes for 1,692 yards and 24 touchdowns, earning first-team 4A all-state from the Salt Lake Tribune
- Helped the Tigers to a 12-2 record and the 4A state title as a junior
- Also a standout on the Orem basketball team, earning coaches' second-team all-state as a junior
| Career | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | GP | REC | YDS | Y/R | LNG | TD | ATT | YDS | Y/A | LNG | TD | NO | LOST |
| 2022 | 9 | 48 | 625 | 13.02 | 46 | 5 | 25 | 209 | 8.36 | 75 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | 12 | 43 | 805 | 18.72 | 55 | 6 | 14 | 148 | 10.57 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTALS: | 21 | 91 | 1430 | 15.71 | 55 | 11 | 39 | 357 | 9.15 | 75 | 5 | 1 | 1 |