BYU receiver Samson Nacua celebrates a TD catch Virginia at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. Samson and his brother Puka made BYU program historical past after they each completed the sport with 107 receiving yards and a landing apiece. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
San Francisco 49ers security Kai Nacua, Samson Nacua’s older brother, tosses the ball throughout observe in Santa Clara, Calif., Wednesday, June 2, 2021. What recommendation did massive brother have for Samson as he prepares for the NFL: Preserve God first. Josie Lepe, Related Press
BYU receiver Samson Nacua yells after coming off the sphere in the course of the Vegas Kickoff Traditional in opposition to Arizona in Las Vegas on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. Nacua fielded an onside kick late within the recreation that preserved the BYU victory. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
BYU vast receiver brothers Samson Nacua, left, and Puka Nacua discuss enjoying collectively throughout BYU soccer media day on the BYU Broadcasting Constructing in Provo on Thursday, June 17, 2021. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
BYU vast receiver Samson Nacua hauls in a protracted cross throughout BYU’s professional day on the college’s indoor observe facility in Provo on Friday, March 25, 2022. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Timpview’s Samson Nacua celebrates his landing in opposition to Highland within the 4A highschool semifinal soccer recreation at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake Metropolis Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
It’s not fairly the moon touchdown, however the subsequent two days will likely be out of this world for Samson Nacua.
The previous BYU and Utah receiver arrived in Indianapolis Thursday for his first minicamp as an undrafted free agent with the Colts. Whereas there, underneath the watchful eye of head coach Frank Reich, Nacua will take his first “small steps” towards making a “big leap” into the NFL.
His first goal is to make a superb first impression.
“I would like them to know I'll do no matter they ask of me,” he advised “BYU SportsNation” earlier than his 6 a.m. flight to Indiana. “In the event that they want me to go on the market and catch a cross, I’ll do it. In the event that they want me to go on the market and block a defensive finish, I’ll do it. In the event that they want me to go play security and deal with Tyler Allgeier, I’ll do it.”
Being a free agent is a well-known street for Nacua, who has walked this stroll earlier than.
“I used to be a walk-on on the College of Utah and earned my means from there and I earned my solution to BYU. It wasn’t straightforward to recover from right here,” he mentioned. “Now I've this camp invite as a free agent, or walk-on, it’s all the identical to me. I’m able to make my mark and able to ball.”
Brotherly recommendation
Kai Nacua is aware of how robust it's to outlive within the NFL, each on and off the sphere. The previous BYU defensive again, and Samson’s older brother, was additionally an undrafted free agent. He signed with the Browns in 2017 and has since frolicked between the observe squads and lively rosters of the Browns, Ravens, Panthers, Colts, 49ers and is presently on the lively roster of the Jets.
San Francisco 49ers security Kai Nacua, Samson Nacua’s older brother, tosses the ball throughout observe in Santa Clara, Calif., Wednesday, June 2, 2021. What recommendation did massive brother have for Samson as he prepares for the NFL: Preserve God first.
Josie Lepe, Related Press
“He advised me the largest factor is retaining God first, household second and soccer third,” Samson mentioned. “As he has jumped round from group to group, it has taken a toll, each mentally and bodily. Being away from household and out by yourself, you must discover peace with God and inside your self.”
Samson discovered peace, and reunited together with his youthful brother Puka, at BYU.
“God and my household helped me get to BYU,” he mentioned. “It wasn’t a straightforward determination or a straightforward course of to get right here, however I made it. God helped with all of it and I’m so grateful for each alternative He retains giving me.”
Three impressions
Samson’s first impression at BYU got here on the Cougars’ expense in 2018. As a receiver at Utah, he caught a 10-yard landing cross from Jason Shelley within the Utes’ 35-27 come-from-behind victory in Salt Lake Metropolis.
His second impression, after graduating and transferring to BYU, was within the season opener final fall in opposition to Arizona in Las Vegas. Regardless of sitting out all however one play with a sore hamstring, Nacua was referred to as on to discipline an onside kick try and protect the 24-16 win at Allegiant Stadium.
After making the play, Nacua handed the ball over to the sport official as BYU coach Kalani Sitake corralled him in a bear hug on the 40-yard line. His time in Provo and his tutelage from Sitake was underway.
Nacua’s third impression got here throughout his BYU residence opener the next week in opposition to Utah. In a pregame interview on BYUtv’s “Countdown to Kickoff” Nacua promised to catch a landing for his ailing grandmother throughout his first recreation in Provo in opposition to his former group.
His promise was fulfilled when Jaren Corridor threw a two-yard strike to Nacua with 4 seconds remaining within the second quarter. The landing shook LaVell Edwards Stadium and put a smile on his grandmother’s face, who was watching the sport on tv at residence.
Caught up within the second, each Samson and Puka have been penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct in the course of the celebration — one thing their coach, and grandmother, weren’t too comfortable about. Happily for the 2 playmakers, each Sitake and grandma have been fast to forgive.
“Kalani’s perception in us was so excessive that it helped me play to a sure degree,” Samson mentioned. “It boosts you a lot the place you feel like you're a professional already. You're feeling so good, like ‘That is all so pure.’ It’s like ‘I’m not even desirous about soccer proper now, I’m desirous about simply having enjoyable and doing what I’ve been doing my entire life.’”
BYU receiver Samson Nacua yells after coming off the sphere in the course of the Vegas Kickoff Traditional in opposition to Arizona in Las Vegas on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. Nacua fielded an onside kick late within the recreation that preserved the BYU victory.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
Dream season
Samson and Puka have been facet by facet their whole lives, however by no means on the soccer discipline, till the 2021 season at BYU.
With Puka transferring from Washington and Samson from Utah, the Nacua boys fulfilled the longtime dream of their late father Lionel, who handed away in 2012.
“The entire season was like a dream to me, like a film,” Samson mentioned. “Each time I obtained to line up and even stand on the sideline watching Puka, or simply seeing my little brother doing these loopy issues proper subsequent to me, and typically me making a play proper subsequent to him. I imply, man, you couldn’t ask for something higher.”
Samson caught 21 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns throughout BYU’s 10-3 season. He additionally rushed seven occasions for 29 yards and a landing. Puka, a sophomore, caught 43 passes for 805 yards and 6 touchdowns. He rushed 14 occasions for 148 yards.
“All of it performed out completely. It was identical to a film — the entire season with the group, the followers and the coaches. It was identical to a film.”
The 2 brothers made program historical past in opposition to Virginia as every completed with 107 yards receiving and a landing.
BYU vast receiver brothers Samson Nacua, left, and Puka Nacua discuss enjoying collectively throughout BYU soccer media day on the BYU Broadcasting Constructing in Provo on Thursday, June 17, 2021.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
Samson’s journey in Provo wasn’t all the time clean as a result of he was admittedly slightly tough across the edges. However his ardour and hearth have been always on show, even when issues didn’t go so nicely.
Samson fumbled on BYU’s closing drive on the Independence Bowl at UAB’s 28-yard line with 3:36 to go. The Cougars by no means noticed the ball once more in a surprising 31-28 defeat.
As films go, that qualifies as horror movie. However for Samson, his closing act at BYU was nonetheless to come back.
Professional day
Scouts or representatives from 29 of the NFL’s 32 groups settled into BYU’s indoor observe facility on Friday morning, March 25, to observe 5 Cougars showcase their expertise, together with Samson.
“My agent mentioned, ‘We’ve obtained to get your title on the map,’” Samson mentioned. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound prospect was flying nicely beneath their radar. “Day-after-day as I ready, I’d inform myself they will see what sort of participant I'm on the finish of the day.”
Samson placed on a present, which included a 40-yard sprint time of 4.48. On the finish of the day, he was spot on.
“Proper after that's when groups began speaking to us,” he mentioned. “They have been impressed with my physique and the way clean I regarded within the drills, and the Colts obtained me.”
BYU vast receiver Samson Nacua hauls in a protracted cross throughout BYU’s professional day on the college’s indoor observe facility in Provo on Friday, March 25, 2022.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
The helmet
When Nacua slides the Colts helmet on his head Friday morning at minicamp he'll fulfill a minimum of a part of a lifelong dream. He has worn a helmet at Timpview Excessive with an orange T, a Utah helmet with a U and a Cougars helmet with a Y. The Colts helmet, that includes a horseshoe, will likely be his first as an expert within the NFL.
“The largest factor for me is to ensure all the things feels precisely the identical so I’m not driving something too excessive or too low, however retaining within the center,” he mentioned. “I’ve been doing this my entire life since rising up with my dad as my coach. We talked about this second. Now it’s right here. I’ve simply obtained to exit and act like an expert and be able to go when the ball is thrown my means.”
No, Colts minicamp isn’t on par with a moon touchdown, however for Nacua, will probably be out of this world, the place his “small steps” over the subsequent two days can ultimately result in his “big leap” into the NFL.
Dave McCann is a contributor to the Deseret Information and is the studio host for “After Additional Assessment,” co-host for “Countdown to Kickoff” and the “Postgame Present” and play-by-play announcer for BYUtv.
Timpview’s Samson Nacua celebrates his landing in opposition to Highland within the 4A highschool semifinal soccer recreation at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake Metropolis Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015.
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information