Wide receivers Samson and Puka Nacua left Utah and Washington, respectively. They’re transferring to BYU.
The two brothers are returning to their hometown of Provo as a package deal, will help shore up the Cougars’ depleted wideout corps
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune)
Utah Utes wide receiver Samson Nacua (45) celebrates as the Utah Utes host the USC Trojans, NCAA football at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Saturday Oct. 20, 2018.
The worst-kept local secret in college football came to fruition on Monday evening.
Brothers Samson and Puka Nacua, wide receiver transfers from the University of Utah and University of Washington, respectively, announced their intention to transfer to BYU.
Puka Nacua, who starred at Orem High School, entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on Sunday, while Samson Nacua, a former Timpview standout opted for the transfer portal on Feb. 26.
Samson Nacua played in 45 career games for the Utes, hauling in 82 passes for 1,015 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Puka Nacua caught 16 passes for 319 yards and three scores in six games between the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
The Nacua brothers arriving in Provo should ease the loss of Dax Milne, who declared for the NFL Draft following a junior season in which he caught 70 passes 1,188 yards and eight touchdowns.
Washington wide receiver Puka Nacua in action against Hawaii during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.
Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.
You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.
Josh Newman began covering the University of Utah for The Tribune in 2019. A Long Island, N.Y. native, he covered Rutgers University and Monmouth University for the Asbury Park Press in New Jersey for 15 years. Basketball remains his first love, a cold IPA coming in a close second.