Puka Nacua on his way to becoming the best NFL skill player to come from BYU

When it comes to BYU alumni in NFL history, among the first names that most often come up include Cougar legend quarterback Steve Young, three-time Super Bowl champion center Bart Oates and Todd Christensen, who starred with the Raiders in the late 1970s and still ranks fourth all-time in receiving yards for the franchise.

Over the years, BYU has produced a variety of offensive playmakers who successfully transitioned to the NFL. Austin Collie became one of Peyton Manning’s most reliable targets during his time in Indianapolis, while Taysom Hill has carved out a unique role in New Orleans as one of the league’s most versatile all-around players with his passing, rushing, and receiving abilities.

While these names will always hold a special place in Cougar history, the player currently carrying the torch for BYU in the NFL is none other than Puka Nacua — the Rams’ fifth-round pick who has quickly emerged as one of the league’s brightest young stars.

Entering only his third season in the NFL, Nacua is already fifth all-time in combined rushing and receiving yards of players who came from BYU.

*Stats from before 2025-26 season, not including playoffs

Despite playing just 11 games last season due to injury, Nacua still led the Rams with 990 receiving yards. He’s off to an even hotter start this season. Through only four games with LA, he’s already surpassed 500 yards, leading the NFL and outpacing Seattle’s Smith-Njigba who sits more than 100 yards behind in second.

Last weekend against the Colts, Nacua had 13 receptions, 170 yards and a touchdown as he solidified himself as Matthew Stafford's favorite receiver with the departure of Cooper Kupp.

With this impressive start, Nacua leads the NFL in four different categories, targets (49), yards (503), explosive receptions (12), and 42 receptions through four games which ties an NFL record.

While Puka Nacua’s success may have come as a surprise to football fans around the world — and even to many at BYU — no one on campus knows him better than his younger brother and fellow wide receiver, Tei, now in his second year with the Cougars. For Tei, his older brother’s breakout was no shock.

“It’s hard not to recognize, he’s such a standout right now, especially producing at the highest level,” Tei Nacua said. “It’s not new to me or any of my family. We’ve been seeing it since his middle school days, high school days, even at the collegiate level. I feel like he’s always been dominating every level, so it only makes sense.”

While most people know Puka simply as a football player, Tei has always known a different side of him.

“He’s goofy. He’s very goofy. He likes to joke around, and he’s very competitive,” Tei said. “No matter what we’re doing—could be playing cards, could be on the Xbox playing some 2K—whatever it is, he’s very competitive.”

Tei also shared the mindset that has helped him, Puka, and his three other brothers as they navigate the grind of football and life.

“Not just Puka, but all my siblings who’ve been able to play throughout the NFL, it’s about taking it day by day,” Tei said. “One day you’re going to wake up feeling pretty crappy, but you just got to absorb that emotion and give everything you have that day, your best effort. Then wake up and you’re going to feel totally new. So however you may be feeling, absorb it, rock with it, and give it all.”

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Puka Nacua spent two seasons with the Washington Huskies before transferring and breaking out with the Cougars in 2021. In his two years at BYU, he recorded 1,787 yards and 16 touchdowns.

One of Nacua’s mentors in college was current BYU wide receivers coach Fesi Sitake, who spoke highly of what he brought to the program.

“Puka was a blessing to us,” Sitake said. “He was such a great example of having energy and loving the game, and he brought so much juice to practice. It was a blessing to coach him.”

Sitake went on to credit the culture established by head coach Kalani Sitake as an important part of Puka’s development.

“I hope, and I think BYU’s helped him understand that it’s bigger than football,” Sitake said. “As talented as he was, there are standards here. There’s a part of Kalani’s culture that makes these guys think outside of themselves, and I think that’s one thing Puka’s always been good at. For him to be in a place where he could not only do what he loves—football—but also be himself, think about others, serve people, and look outward, I would hope and believe that’s helped him get to where he is now.”

That same culture, Sitake explained, not only shapes players like Nacua but also helps BYU in recruiting as other players who recently moved on get a chance to prove themselves in the NFL.

“We’re validating what BYU can do for you. For a lot of people, there’s a misconception that if you go to BYU, you have to sacrifice certain things—maybe you don’t have a chance at going to the NFL or being the type of player you want to be," he said. "But you can look at guys like Puka, Fred Warner, and even Ryan Rehkow, who is now leading in punting. All those guys are at the top of their position group, and they came through BYU. It helps us in recruiting to say you can come here, get a great education, be part of a great culture, and also be one of the best players in the NFL if that’s your goal.”

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At the pace Nacua is on, it may not take long for him to be considered the greatest receiver from BYU to play in the NFL, as he approaches Todd Christensen’s 5,866 all-purpose yards.

Although Provo is nowhere near an NFL stadium, it could be argued the Los Angeles Rams have become BYU’s adopted team, as fans are almost guaranteed to spot a blue-and-yellow Nacua jersey among the sea of blue and white inside LaVell Edwards Stadium each gameday.

Puka Nacua embodies what BYU Cougars can achieve by fully dedicating themselves to their talents. His early success in the NFL stands as a testament to his work ethic and determination, as he represents his goals, his family name, and BYU.