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| Kai Nacua comes up with a clutch interception in the 2016 Poinsettia Bowl. |
Las Vegas isn't nationally recognized as a college football recruiting hotbed, but it has been good for the BYU Cougars over the years. Jamal Willis, Nick Eyre, Kalin Hall, and Trajan Pili, just to name a few, made the journey up I-15. One player and Polynesian who was a particularly big jackpot for the Cougars is Kai Nacua.
After guiding Liberty High School to an 11-2 record three consecutive seasons as the team's quarterback, Nacua was destined for greatness at BYU on defense. Nevermind the fact that Liberty ran an option offense, which isn't BYU friendly. Nacua's future had defense written all over it, as evidenced by his first-team All-State designation on defense.
Playing behind Craig Bills as a freshman in 2013, Nacua saw the field in eight games. His best game came against Idaho State. He made five tackles, two tackles for loss (TFL), and had two pass breakups.
The following year, Bills was still the number one free safety, but Nacua started six games and played in all 13. He made his first career interception with 3:15 to play in the UCF game. That ended a scoring threat, and helped force overtime. He finished with seven tackles in that game, as well. His biggest game of the season, however, came in the regular season finale at Cal. Nacua racked up a career-high 14 tackles that day, including 1.5 TFL.
Nacua became the full-time starter in 2015, and he didn't waste any time making it known that opposing quarterbacks always needed to know his whereabouts. After missing the season opener, Nacua made his debut in the home opener against Boise State. He tied the school record that night for most interceptions in a game (3). His final interception put an exclamation mark on the win.
BYU had taken a 28-24 lead with 45 seconds to play on a dramatic 4th down bomb. Any college football fan knows, however, Boise State wasn't going to concede loss that easy. What the Broncos, and college football fans, hadn't realized was that Nacua's first two interceptions weren't a fluke. Dropping back to pass on first down, the Boise State quarterback threw deep downfield. Nacua was there to intercept the ball.
Conventional wisdom says Nacua should have fallen to the ground after securing the ball, but that's not what players who end up on Top 10 lists do. His natural instincts took over, and he returned the ball 50 yards for a touchdown. That play put Nacua in the national spotlight. He was named the Jim Thorpe National Defensive Back of the Week, the AutoNation National Defensive Player of the Week, and the Sports Madness National Defensive Player of the Week.
Nacua returned another interception for a touchdown later in the season against Fresno State. That made him just the fifth player in school history, and first since 1981, with two pick-6s in a season. Twice he had nine tackles in a game (ECU, Utah State).
It was Nacua's best season. He was named to the first team All-Independents by Phil Steele. Nacua returned his six interceptions for a total of 137 yards, which was tied for the second most in a season in BYU history. He also had career-highs 66 tackles and six pass breakups.
Just because his junior season was his best doesn't mean Nacua didn't have a good year as a senior. He led the way as the Cougar defense forced six turnovers against Utah by intercepting two passes and recovering a fumble. He came up with a clutch fourth quarter interception against Toledo that allowed BYU to take a 52-45 lead.
Fourth quarter interceptions were a common theme for Nacua in 2016. He did it four times that season. He had another big one with 7:58 to play in the Mississippi State game, along with a season-high nine tackles, to help force overtime. His final fourth quarter interception came in the Poinsettia Bowl.
The 2016 Poinsettia Bowl was the swan song for Nacua, as well as another Cougar great: Jamaal Williams. While Williams captivated the audience throughout the game as he rushed for over 200 yards, Nacua perfectly punctuated his playing career.
Wyoming was on the verge of overcoming a 17-point fourth quarter deficit to win the game. Trailing by three, the Cowboys had reached the BYU 32-yard line. They had scored touchdowns on each of their last two drives. They had just completed a 19-yard pass, so this drive didn't appear it would be any different.
That's when Nacua did what ball hawks do. On the next play, he flew in and picked the ball out of the air giving BYU the ball back with 1:22 to play. Game over.
Nacua left Provo with a legacy as the best ball hawk of this generation, and one of the best in Cougar history. His 14 career interceptions is tied for fourth most all-time with Derwin Gray (1989-92). No other player has had more inceptions since 1973. Nacua's 246 return yards is third most all-time (just three yards behind number two). He is one of four players in BYU history to intercept at least six passes in two separate seasons (Bobby Roberts, 1966-67; Dan Hansen, 1970-71; Dave Atkinson, 1971-72; Mike Russell, 1973-74).
| Tackles |
Solo
| Assist | TFL | PD | Int | Sacks | QBH | FF | FR | TD | |
| 2013 |
10
|
9
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 2014 |
40
|
30
|
10
|
3.5
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 2015 |
66
|
38
|
28
|
1
|
6
|
6
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
| 2016 |
48
|
40
|
8
|
1.5
|
2
|
6
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
| Career |
164
|
116
|
47
|
8
|
13
|
14
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
Nacua made the Cleveland Browns roster as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He started three games and played in all 16. He totaled 14 tackles as a rookie. He is now a member of the Baltimore Ravens.
Top 10 Polynesian Players
10. Mekeli Ieremia, DT, 1974-77
9. Kurt Gouveia, LB, 1982-85
8. Reno Mahe, WR/RB, 1998, 2001-02
7. Glen Kozlowski, WR, 1981, 1983-85
6. Aaron Francisco, DB, 2001-04
5. Vai Sikahema, PR/KR/RB, 1980-81, 1984-85
4. Kai Nacua, FS, 2013-16
3. Lakei Heimuli, RB, 1983-86
2. Harvey Unga, RB, 2006-09
1. Kyle Van Noy, LB, 2010-13
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
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