Utah WR Samson Nacua Enters Name Into NCAA Transfer Portal
Feb 26, 2021, 5:33 PM | Updated: 6:15 pm
Utah Utes wide receiver Samson Nacua (45) celebrate his team's win over the Oregon Ducks at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. (Spencer Heaps, Deseret News)
(Spencer Heaps, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah wide receiver Samson Nacua has entered his name into the NCAA Transfer Portal on Friday afternoon.
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Samson Nacua is leaving Utah after spending five seasons with the Utes from 2016-20.
KSL Sports can confirm the report that Nacua is in the transfer portal. He made it official on Twitter on Friday evening.
“Dear Utah, from the beginning this family brought me in with loving and open arms,” Nacua wrote on Twitter. “I wouldn’t change a thing in the years I’ve been here. I’ve loved every moment here and am more than thankful for every opportunity given to me. To the coaches and head man Kyle Whittingham I’m grateful for the belief in me especially when nobody else did. To my brothers thank you for your love and friendship you have all showed me and I only hope I was able to show the same in return. The bonds and friendships we created will last a lifetime and I’ll always be here as a friend and a Ute. Finish what we have started and always come willing to work and learn. At this time I feel it is the best to part ways with Utah and open my options and recruitment up. Thankful for everything and a Ute forever.”
— Lørd Įmpälêr (@lionel_nacua) February 27, 2021
Nacua joined the Utes as a walk-on out of Timpview High School in 2016. He earned a scholarship in camp and utilized his redshirt as a freshman. The Provo, Utah native played 13 games with 6 starts in 2017, hauling in 29 catches for 294 yards and one touchdown. As a redshirt sophomore in 2018, Nacua played in all 14 games, recording 31 receptions for 362 yards and a team-best 5 touchdowns.
During the 2019 season as a redshirt junior, Nacua played in all 14 games, finishing with 18 receptions for 330 yards and 4 touchdowns. This past season in 2020, Nacua played in four of the five games, catching 4 passes for 29 yards and one touchdown.
Nacua is the second wide receiver to enter the transfer portal over the last month, joining Bryan Thompson, who recently joined Arizona State. During the time of Thompson’s departure, Jaylen Dixon announced he was coming back to Utah after entering the portal during fall camp leading up to the 2020 season. While the depth is getting thin, the Utes still have dynamic playmakers at wide receiver with Britain Covey, Solomon Enis, Devaughn Vele, Money Parks and Connor O’Toole. Utah also signed Makai Cope in the 2021 recruiting class.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.
