Rams' Puka Nacua Inspired by Mom, Family as He Becomes NFL Star

Life is certainly different for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua.

A year ago, the former BYU wideout was selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft, hoping not only to contribute but also to stick around. Now, Nacua has established himself as one of Los Angeles’ top players after a record-breaking rookie season.

With success comes fame, and he has had to adapt to it. Although the constant public attention he receives has led him to spend more time at home than before, Nacua has a soft spot for the joy and smiles that greet him. Every time he goes out, he receives many shakas and references to his stylish hairstyle. And there are more and more people who wear his jersey almost every day.

The more this happens, the more everyone realizes that Nacua is a certified star.

“Being recognized here in Los Angeles — of all places — is definitely a different level,” Nacua told USA TODAY Sports. “My family sees that and they’re like, ‘Wow Puka, you’re really famous.’”

Another result of his on-field success is that Nacua has been named one of Toyota’s newest NFL partners, alongside Kyle Hamilton of the Baltimore Ravens, Michael Pittman Jr. of the Indianapolis Colts and Christian Gonzalez of the New England Patriots. It’s a perfect partnership for Nacua since he owns a Supra, noting that it’s the same car Paul Walker drove in the first “Fast and Furious.”

But another reason Nacua is aligned with the brand is that Toyota has said it wants athletes who have deep connections to their communities, family and friends, and for Nacua, family is everything.

Sure, he’s busy, but Nacua still makes time for his family, primarily his mother, Penina Nacua, and his six other siblings. They FaceTime at least once a day, sometimes three times a day. The resilience and strength his mother showed after he lost his father in his early teens is something he’s forever grateful for, and something he often thinks about when he steps onto the football field.

“My mother is everything to me and my family. She is the pillar of our family and supports us in these difficult times,” Nacua said. “The strength of a single mother, the ability to carry all our children and continue living, is something I use.”

Preparation for the 2024 season

Nacua has a tough task ahead of him as he tries to live up to or even surpass his rookie season, which he finished with 105 receptions and 1,486 receiving yards, both NFL rookie records.

In preparation for the 2024 season, Nacua trained with All-Pro teammate Cooper Kupp during the offseason to get a full sense of what it takes to be an elite receiver. ESPN reported that the workouts were so intense that Nacua began training vomiting constantly, realizing he needed to change his diet to match Kupp.

Not only does he act like Kupp, but Nacua has also started to look like him. He no longer has a baby face, but also a full beard, almost becoming a mini-Kupp, even though they are the same height.

Nacua admitted that people have told him he looks exactly like Kupp, and while he’s trimmed it a bit, expect the facial hair to stay this season.

“Cooper has a nice thick beard,” he said. “During the season, I don’t know if I’m going to shave it. But for now, even though it feels like 360 degrees in California, I’m going to have a nice thin beard.”

But the workouts with Kupp have been a huge benefit to Nacua’s preparation for the season, checking off all the boxes he wanted to achieve heading into training camp. With a full season under his belt, Nacua feels like he can spend more time in training camp refining certain aspects of his game, particularly in the weight room and recovery. Becoming more accurate is something he can afford to do since he doesn’t have to worry about getting cut before taking a meaningful snap.

All of this special training is preparation for Nacua to achieve his biggest goal for Nacua this season: not missing a game — something he accomplished as a freshman.

“You never know which game is going to be your last,” Nacua said. “I feel like I’ve prepared my body enough for what we’re going to go through and I’ll be ready to play for 21 weeks, hopefully.”

But he also has his sights set on winning the Triple Crown, which Kupp did in 2021, giving him another opportunity to emulate his illustrious mentor.

The USA TODAY app takes you to the heart of the news, fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio stories, e-newspaper and more.