Puka Nacua

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

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• Selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the fifth round (177th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft.

College: Nacua appeared in 21 games (14 starts) during his time at BYU from 2021-22 and registered seven games with more than 100 receiving yards. He caught 91 passes for 1,430 yards and 11 touchdowns during his time at BYU and led the Cougars in both years, despite battling injuries in 2022. His final season at BYU, he notched 48 receptions for 625 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 13-yards per reception and 69.4 yards per game. He finished the year with 834 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns in nine games. In 2021, he hauled in 43 passes for 805 yards, six touchdowns, and averaged 18.7 yards receptions. He also contributed to the rushing attack at BYU, with 39 carries for 357 yards and five rushing touchdowns. Nacua was the recipient of numerous awards for his on-field performance, including Phil Steele All-Independent First-Team (2021, 2022), College Footall Network All-Independent Wide Receiver of the year and All-Independent First-Team (2022), Pro Football Network Independent Receiver of the Year, First-Team All-Independent Offense and Independent Newcomer of the Year (2021). Before transferring to BYU, he spent time at Washington in 2019 and 2020 where he appeared in 11 games and notched 16 catches for 319 yards and three touchdowns.

Personal: Nacua played at Orem High School where he was a MaxPreps.com and USA Today First-Team All-America in 2018. He was the 2018 Utah Gatorade Player of the Year, USA Today's All-Utah Offensive Player of the Year, and Utah's "Mr. Football" according to Deseret News. Nacua broke the Utah state records for career receptions (260), yards (5,226) and receiving touchdowns (58). As a senior, he caught 103 passes for 2,336 yards and 26 touchdowns, setting single-season state records in all three categories. Nacua scored a receiving touchdown in every game his senior year and led the Tigers to a 12-2 overall record and the 4A state championship. As a junior in 2017, he notched 87 catches for 1,692 yards and 24 touchdowns, earning First-Team 4A all-state honors from the Salt Lake Tribune. That season he helped lead the Tigers to a 12-2 record and the 4A state title. Nacua was also a standout basketball player at Orem High School, earning SecondTeam all-state as a junior as voted on by the coaches.