When Puka Nacua transferred to BYU from Washington for his final year two years of college in 2021, he broke out as a top receiver in the country. Nacua earned multiple accolades across his final two seasons, before becoming Second Team NFL All-Pro as a rookie in 2023 for the Los Angeles Rams.
Here's more on Nacua's college career.
The vitals on Puka Nacua
School: Washington & BYU
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205 pounds
Years active: 2019-2022
Here are Puka Nacua's career stats in college.
| School | YEAR | GAMES | REc | Rec Yds | YPC | Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 2019 | 8 | 7 | 168 | 24.0 | 2 |
| Washington | 2020 | 3 | 9 | 151 | 16.8 | 1 |
| BYU | 2021 | 12 | 43 | 805 | 18.7 | 6 |
| BYU | 2022 | 9 | 48 | 625 | 13 | 5 |
| Career | 32 | 107 | 1,749 | 16.3 | 14 |
The Florida weather made us wait for it but boy was it worth it for BYU fans as Puka Nacua takes it 75 yards to the house for a Cougars lead…
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365)
Where did Puka Nacua go to college?
Puka Nacua, a native of Orem, Utah, attended Washington and BYU. Out of high school, he signed with Washington over a litany of offers that included Oregon, Southern California and more, per .
In 2021, Nacua transfered to BYU where his older brothers ;Isaiah, Kai and Samson Nacua played prior.
What kind of prospect was Puka Nacua in high school?
Nacua was a four-star wide receiver at Orem High School in Orem, Utah. He was a top-10 wide receiver in the country, depending on the recruiting service, and No. 1 overall player in Utah in the class of 2019.
Nacua was 2018's Utah Gatorade Player of the Year en route to MaxPreps.com and USA Today First-Team All-American honors. He broke Utah state records for career receptions (260), yards (5,226) and receiving touchdowns (58) and set single-season state records as a senior with 103 catches for 2,336 yards and 26 touchdowns. He led Orem to the 2018 Utah 4A state championship and after the season won the offensive MVP of the 2019 Polynesian Bowl.
Orem 40, Century 0 with 9:19 left in 2Q. Puka Nacua with the 62-yard TD.
— Michael Guise (@Michael_Guise)
Which awards did Puka Nacua win in college?
Here are the awards and honors Nacua won in college:
- Phil Steele All-Independent First Team (2021, 2022)
- College Football Network All-Independent Wide Receiver of the Year (2022)
- College Football Network All-Independent First Team (2022)
- Pro Football Network Independent Wide Receiver of the Year (2021)
- Pro Football Network First Team All-Independent Offense (2021)
- Pro Football Network Independent Newcomer of the Year (2021).
Puka Nacua makes the game winning catch to give BYU a 31-28 win over Boise State
— WestCoastCFB (@WestCoastCFB)
👀 COLLEGE CAREERS OF NFL STARS 🏈
2023 NFL Draft: Bryce Young | C.J. Stroud | Anthony Richardson | Zay Flowers | Bijan Robinson | Will Anderson Jr.
2022 NFL Draft: Christian Watson | Brock Purdy | Bailey Zappe | Skylar Thompson | Isiah Pacheco
2021 NFL Draft: Trevor Lawrence | Trey Lance | Ja'Marr Chase | Justin Fields | Mac Jones | DeVonta Smith
2020 NFL Draft: Joe Burrow | Tua Tagovailoa | Jordan Love | Tee Higgins | Jalen Hurts
2019 NFL Draft: Kyler Murray | Deebo Samuel | Gardner Minshew II | Miles Sanders | A.J. Brown
2018 NFL Draft: Lamar Jackson | Baker Mayfield | Josh Allen | Darius Leonard | Fred Warner
2017 NFL Draft: Patrick Mahomes | Deshaun Watson | | Cooper Kupp
2016 NFL Draft: Jared Goff | Carson Wentz | Jalen Ramsey | Chris Jones
2015 NFL Draft: Stefon Diggs
2014 NFL Draft: Aaron Donald | Odell Beckham Jr. | Khalil Mack | Jerick McKinnon | Jimmy Garoppolo
Legends: Tom Brady | Jackie Robinson | Deion Sanders | Cam Newton
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