Puka Nacua, a wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams, was drafted in 2023 as the #177 pick in the fifth round. He began playing football during his high school days at Orem High School and broke Utah state records, after which he enrolled at the University of Washington in 2019. But after two decent seasons, he used the NCAA transfer portal and moved to Brigham Young University for 2021-22. In his two years at BYU, he recorded 91 receptions for 1,430 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
After being selected by the Rams, Nacua's performance was a shock to all, given that his prospect score was too low, being 5.80, as per the NFL, for a wide receiver and was considered to be slow with a 4.57-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine. In the 2023 season, he was selected to the Pro Bowl, PFWA All-Rookie Team, and second-team All-Pro teams. Furthermore, he had 105 receptions in his first season, including 15 in a single game for 1,486 yards and 181 receiving yards in the playoffs, all of which are NFL records.
Puka Nacua’s Height
Puka Nacua stands 6 feet 2 inches or 188 cm., tall.
Nacua, who stands 6'2′′ and weighs 212 pounds, possesses exceptional size and length, which he combines with his ability to accelerate upfield. His speed can stress defenses, especially when he gets a runway to open his strides. He can lengthen short passes across the middle and earn one-on-one opportunities downfield because of his speed.
Nacua spent the majority of his time at BYU working on the boundary, but he can also be used in motion. Apart from his physical attributes, he also has a solid release package, according to Pro Football Network.
Nacua suffers from a general lack of elite characteristics. While he has good twitch and hip movement, he is a more linear and streamlined athlete. His initial burst isn't particularly impressive, and he needs space to optimize his speed. He has excellent body control, but his coordination and hand technique can be erratic.
Puka Nacua’s Weight
Puka Nacua weighs 212 pounds or 96 kg.
Puka Nacua’s Age
Puka Nacua is 23 years old as of September 2024. He was born on May 29, 2001.
Puka Nacua’s College Stats and Awards
Puka Nacua's college statistics and awards:
Season | GP | Receiving | |||
Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
Washington Huskies | |||||
2019 | 8 | 7 | 168 | 24 | 2 |
2020 | 3 | 9 | 151 | 16.8 | 1 |
BYU Cougars | |||||
2021 | 12 | 43 | 805 | 18.7 | 6 |
2022 | 9 | 48 | 625 | 13 | 5 |
Total | 32 | 107 | 1,749 | 18.1 | 14 |
Award/Honor | Year |
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 |
FAQs on Puka Nacua
A. Puka Nacua is 23 years old as of September 2024 (born May 29th, 2001).
A. Puka Nacua is of Samoan, Hawaiian and Portuguese descent
A. Puka Nacua played for both Washington Huskies (2019-2020) and BYU Cougars (2021-2022).
A. Puka Nacua scored six touchdowns in his NFL career as of September 2024.
A. Puka Nacua's average annual salary is $1 million, as per his rookie four-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams 2023-2026.