Puka Nacua Bio: Age, Height, Weight, Hometown, Career, College, Family and more
Nacua has only played a couple of games so far and though it is his rookie season only in the NFL he is already starting to create some buzz. Puka Nacua is a rising star in the NFL who used to play college football at BYU until he got drafted by the Los Angeles Rams as a wide receiver. He has started all three games of the season so far and has 21 catches for 297 yards and two amazing touchdowns. But who is the man behind the helmet? Fans want to know more about Puca Nacua and his past. So without further ado, let’s get into it.
Dossier
| Full Name | Puka Nacua |
| Nick Name | Puka |
| Age (As of 2023) | 22 (born May 29, 2001) |
| Occupation | American football wide receiver |
| DOB | May 29, 2001 |
| Height | 6’1” |
| Weight | 210 lbs |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Samoan |
| Hometown | Provo, Utah |
| Mother Name | Peina Nacua |
| Father Name | Lionel Nacua |
| Wife/GF Name | Haillie Aiono |
| Siblings | Kai Nacua, Samson Nacua, Isaiah Nacua |
| High School | Orem High School |
| College | Huskies, BYU |
| NFL Draft Year | 2023 |
| NFL Current Team | Los Angeles Rams |
| NFL Jersey No. | 17 |
| Team Position | Wide Receiver |
| NFL Contract | $4 million for 4 years |
| Net Worth (as of 2023) | $1 million approx |
| Endorsements | Murdock Hyundai Lindon |
Early Life
Nacua’s family is from Samoa. Because of his size as a baby, he earned the nickname “Puka,” which means “fat and chubby” in Samoan language. He grew up in Provo, Utah, and attended Orem High School there. He graduated high school with 260 receptions, 5,226 yards receiving, and 58 touchdowns, all of which were Utha state records. His father predicted and turned the Nacua family into a direct pipeline for the BYU football team. He was also his little league coach.
“Puka did have that,” Penina Nacua said, referring to Lionel’s influence on their fifth child. “As Puka grew older and began to play football, my husband would always say, ‘I’ll take him to football.’ Despite the fact that he was working more and more, he always made time for pick-up or drop-off, and sometimes both.”
Family
Puka was born on May 29, 2001, to Penina Nacua and Lionel Nacua. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, Puka’s grandmother and her daughter Penina went to the United States from West Samoa when she was a child, where Penina met Lionel.
But soon, his father died in 2012 leaving behind three siblings, all of whom chose to pursue a career in football. Lionel was the family’s unifying force, particularly for Puka, who was in seventh grade when his father passed away; and filling the vacuum left by his absence proved to be a challenge for him. Puka Nacua has frequently expressed gratitude to his mother, Penina, for keeping the family united and sustaining every member during tough times.
He once said ” We ultimately came to terms with the fact that our father wasn’t present and that we needed to support one another by being strong. Recovery has taken a long time.”
Nacua began his high school football career at Orem High School in Orem, Utah. He was a two-time Utah Gatorade Player of the Year and was named USA Today’s All-Utah Offensive Player of the Year in 2018 and broke all Utah state football records.
In 2019, Nacua signed with the University of Washington. During his freshman season, he appeared in 11 games and had 16 receptions for 319 yards and three touchdowns. He was injured and missed the full 2020 season.
In 2021, Nacua transferred to BYU. He played in all 13 games for the Cougars, recording 43 catches for 805 yards and six touchdowns. He was named to the All-Independent First Team.
In 2022, Nacua played in nine games for BYU, recording 48 receptions for 625 yards and five touchdowns. He was named to the All-Independent Second Team.
Nacua was drafted by the Rams in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He has made an immediate impact on the Rams’ offense only three games in, catching 10 passes for 119 yards in his debut and 15 passes for 147 yards in his second game.
NFL Contract
Puka Nacua signed a contract with the Los Angeles Rams for four-year, $4,084,977. The contract includes a $244,976 signing bonus, a $244,976 guaranteed bonus, and an average annual salary of $1,021,244. Nacua will earn a base salary of $750,000 and a signing bonus of $244,976 in 2023, with a cap hit of $811,244 and a dead cap value of $244,976.
Conclusion
Paku Nacua is a talented and versatile wide receiver with a bright future in the NFL. He has all the tools to be a successful receiver, including good route running, strong hands, and the ability to make plays after the catch. As a rookie, he has been impressive and has broken several rookie records. He is a valuable asset to the Rams’ offense and is expected to be a major contributor for years to come.
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