Talented Nacua brothers, Puka and Samson, will add firepower and depth to BYU’s already potent receiving corps

Ted S. Warren, AP

Washington’s Puka Nacua and Utah’s Samson Nacua have officially signed with BYU after transferring to their hometown school to be closer to family

BYU’s receivers group just got a lot better.

Head coach Kalani Sitake announced Wednesday that brothers Puka and Samson Nacua, from the University of Washington and University of Utah, respectively, have signed scholarship agreements to transfer to BYU.

Wednesday’s announcement is not a surprise; The Nacuas said on March 8 via social media accounts that they were transferring to BYU. Samson Nacua enters as a graduate transfer and a senior in 2021, while Puka Nacua is listed as a sophomore — with three seasons of eligibility remaining if he wants them.

“We are very excited about the additions of Samson and Puka. They are both experienced and talented receivers and come from an amazing family and a great bloodline of football players to come through BYU. Their character and leadership will be a great asset to our program and university and will add to the great culture that has already been established here at BYU.” — BYU football coach Kalani Sitake

Samson Nacua is immediately eligible as a graduate transfer; Puka Nacua will be eligible in 2021 as a first-time transfer if the NCAA passes pending legislation that will allow first-time transfers to be immediately eligible, as expected.

“We are very excited about the additions of Samson and Puka,” Sitake said in a school news release. “They are both experienced and talented receivers and come from an amazing family and a great bloodline of football players to come through BYU. Their character and leadership will be a great asset to our program and university and will add to the great culture that has already been established here at BYU.”

The brothers are the sons of Penina and the late Lionell Nacua. Older brothers Kaimana and Isaiah also attended BYU and were a part of the football program. Kai Nacua played at BYU from 2013-16 and is currently in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers.

Welcome to the Family @AsapPuka!! pic.twitter.com/J30AZUIY29

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) March 31, 2021

Puka Nacua was a first-team All-American and the Deseret News’ Mr. Football out of Orem High School in 2018. He averaged 19.9 yards per reception for the Huskies in his two seasons while totaling 319 yards and three touchdowns on 16 receptions. He played in 11 games overall in two abbreviated seasons in Seattle.

Samson Nacua played in 45 games for Utah, including eight starts, while totaling 1,015 yards and 11 touchdowns on 82 receptions from 2017 to 2020. He was a first-team All-State player out of Timpview High.

The brothers joined group of receivers for receivers coach and passing game coordinator Fesi Sitake that will lose Dax Milne to professional football but has Gunner Romney, Neil Pau’u, Chris Jackson and others returning from a team that went 11-1 and finished ranked No. 11 in the final AP Top 25 poll.

Welcome to the Family @lionel_nacua!! pic.twitter.com/gRqonqs0lq

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) March 31, 2021

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