Puka Nacua has become a household name in the NFL thanks to a historic rookie season in which he set the records for the most receptions and receiving yards ever by a first-year player. However, before he made it to the pros, his brother was playing defensive back a few years prior.
Kai Nacua, who also played at BYU, went undrafted in 2017 but played 16 games for the Browns as a rookie, making three starts. He didn’t play another game until 2020 and played his last game in 2021, but he’s not giving up his football dream yet.
During Saturday’s opening weekend in the UFL, Nacua was a defensive star for the Michigan Panthers. Nacua recorded a game-high 11 tackles, one sack and two tackles for a loss, helping his team to an 18-16 victory over the St. Louis Battlehawks. His highlight play was a sack on former Alabama QB A.J. McCarron in the first quarter.
NACUA TIME! ✨@KaiNacua gets the sack on McCarron! #UFL2024 pic.twitter.com/HuP7t2YUGw
— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) March 30, 2024
Several players have gone from spring leagues to the NFL, so Nacua has a chance to do the same if he plays well in the UFL. It’s not easy to do, but perhaps a team in the NFL will give him another shot.
