Will Puka Nacua be among the Utah ties selected in the 2023 NFL draft? The standout BYU wide receiver’s path to the draft included being a four-star recruit and playing at two colleges.
Who is Puka Nacua?
Position: Wide receiver.
College: BYU (2021-22), Washington (2019-20).
Height: 6-foot-2.
Weight: 201 pounds.
Age: 22.
College stats: 91 receptions for 1,430 yards and 11 touchdowns in two years at BYU, with 39 carries for 357 yards and 5 touchdowns; 16 receptions for 319 yards and 3 touchdowns in two seasons at Washington.
High school: Orem High (Orem, Utah).
High school recruiting rankings:
- 247 Sports — ★★★★
- Rivals — ★★★★
- On3 — ★★★★
Did you know?: During his senior year of high school, Nacua had 103 receptions for 2,336 yards and 26 touchdowns — all single-season state records — and led the country in receiving, averaging 166.9 yards per game.
Scouting report: “With his body control and focus, Nacua can win one-on-one situations on the outside or provide an underneath target as a zone-beater. Though there aren’t questions about his ball skills, he might lack the pure speed that teams covet outside the numbers and the suddenness desired in the slot.” — Dane Brugler, The Athletic.
2023 NFL draft wide receiver ranking:
- ESPN: No. 31.
- Pro Football Focus: Not ranked.
- The Athletic: No. 28.