This is one article that couldn’t wait until Friday. We spoke at length to the last guy to sign onto the class of 2019, Puka Nacua of Orem, Utah, and he opened up about how this process played out, and also the lighter side of his life.
“For me, it was definitely a feeling I had when I first was on campus (at UW); even during the summer when I was there”, Nacua said of when he first began thinking Washington might be his destination, “And then when we went up there again and it was my mom and my sister, we were able to see Seattle more — and I just kept seeing more — it was just piece by piece. It felt right.”
Nacua also talked about discussions he had with Ty Jones, who’s also a receiver from Utah, and his friend Miki Ah You. Nacua said it meant a lot to hear from those two because they had both heard all the “selling” during the recruiting period, but assured Nacua that the word of the coaches was true — and continued on even after they were signed and enrolled.
Towards the final stretch, however, Nacua’s mother, Penina, was still going to be the final word for him. This family is very close and Nacua is very close to his mother, “We had to sit down and talk”, he said, “We’d had her birthday and my sister’s birthday while we were in Seattle and they had really had a good time there…there was just a lot going on…it’s been a lot to take in but it’s also a blessing.”
Nacua would take two more official trips before signing day — literally squeezing it all in.
When signing day rolled around, the family had barely had time to catch their breath, “I would have loved to be sitting at the table with the others from my school…we just needed time.”
In the end, the final word came down on live television in Utah — and, while Junior Adams is definitely a coach that Nacua looks forward to getting to know more and more — Ikaika Malloe had a big impact on the Huskies’ efforts.
“He’s a Poly coach”, Nacua said, “That connection really helped. He’s been through this and he also understands how it is for the family and what my mom was going through because his mom went through it. He’s just a real great coach and person and he made us feel real comfortable and that we knew I would be taken care of.”
Nacua wants to major in Communications and minor in Business, but he won’t be back in Seattle until July for the LEAP program.
“I want to go the rest of the way through my senior year”, he said, musing that this whole process just left him wanting to have time to finally sleep in his own bed for awhile.
Right now Nacua is at 195, but he wants to get up to 205 while also maintaining his speed.
On an even more personal note, Nacua talked about having lost his father six years ago, “My dad was my first coach”, he said, “He definitely impacted me and my family — but it gave me a reason to play and respect the game for him and I know he’s watching me from up there.”
One big question about the future for Nacua, however, is whether he believe he can win a national title at Washington.
“Absolutely”, he said, “That was a big reason when I was deciding on my final schools — (Washington) is just one step away.”
Some Nacua Facts:
Favorite Food: Pepperoni pizza and plain hamburgers, “Just meat, cheese and bun”, he laughed.
Favorite Music: “I like all music, for the most part”, he said, but added that he isn’t a huge country fan.
Favorite TV Show: “Impractical Jokers”.
Favorite Movie: “Forest Gump”, Nacua said, “I could watch that one over and over again and never get tired of it.”
