Why BYU receivers still play pivotal role in Cougars' power-run offense

PROVO — When Puka Nacua announced last spring that he was transferring to be closer to home after spending two seasons at Washington in the Pac-12, there's little doubt that visions of touchdowns and celebrating with his brother Samson at the duo's hometown school of BYU danced in his head.

In short, Puka Nacua dreamed of the kind of connection he once had with BYU quarterback and fellow Polynesian Bowl selection Jacob Conover in a nearly-empty Aloha Stadium nearly three years ago.

And while what he's received five games into the sophomore's first season in Provo hasn't been bad, it also hasn't quite been the multi-touchdown haul some might have expected. Through five games, Nacua has just 11 catches for 201 yards — fine production, but nothing interstellar, either.

Saturday's 34-20 win over in-state rival Utah State left a good taste in Nacua's mouth — and not just for his three catches for 62 yards.

The most memorable moment for Nacua — and one he wouldn't mind repeating Saturday when No. 10 BYU hosts regional rival Boise State at LaVell Edwards Stadium (1:30 p.m. MT, ABC) — wasn't a grab or a score. It was a downfield block that helped propel Tyler Allgeier toward the end zone for one of his three touchdowns, and it wouldn't have been possible without Nacua's selfless downfield block.

"I can't wait to see this play on film. It felt so fun," Nacua recalled of the moment the block rocketed his in-game Hype Meter to 11. "I don't think I've ever felt so hyped on a run play. It felt like I caught a 70-yard catch for a touchdown. We needed that drive to come out with the win."

After the game, BYU president Kevin Worthen embraced Nacua for several moments, whispering in his ear that "you won the game" because of the block.

Stats come and go, but those moments are critical to a good team taking the leap to "great team."

Take it from an expert in blocking — one of BYU's offensive linemen, Clark Barrington. The sophomore from Spokane, Washington, is part of a line that ranks ninth nationally with just four sacks allowed in five games.

What he saw out of Nacua — and other receivers who executed downfield as well as any guard or tackle — was *chef's kiss* 👨‍🍳 and a key reason Allgeier has posted 564 yards on the ground through five games, the eighth-best mark in the Football Bowl Subdivision, including a career-high 218 yards against the Aggies.

"It was awesome. That was a great block," Barrington said. "Him, Neil (Pau'u), and some of the other guys have had great blocks this year. Some of those long runs, you can only attribute to the wide receivers blocking their guys way down field. If they didn't do their job and manhandle guys downfield, we wouldn't get in the end zone on those long runs.

"Those guys are out there grinding and doing their thing. I'm grateful for them."

Older brother Samson Nacua has occasionally provided more spark — at the very least, more passion, as home and away crowds have come to recognize, with the former Utah receiver's electric touchdown catch in a 28-17 win over his former team.

But the emotion, the passion, the hype — whatever word you want to insert here — belongs to both brothers who grew up just a stone's throw away from campus on Provo's east bench.

"First of all, they're good players. They make us better because they're really good players," BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said of the Nacua brothers. "Those guys bring so much energy to our team. They make us better because they're really good players.

"But they also have a presence about them that brings confidence to our team. They love playing the game; both of them play so hard that I think it forces everybody else to raise their effort level."

If Nacua and the receivers lead the way for Allgeier (or Lopini Katoa, Hinckley Ropati or any other BYU running back at the time), it could be another long afternoon for Boise State. The Broncos rank 105th nationally allowing 191.2 yards rushing per game, an eye-popping 4.41 yards per rush.

Of course, with a perceived weakness also comes strength. Boise State is a top-20 team in the country averaging 303.8 yards per game. That includes 1,519 yards, 11 touchdowns and just four interceptions from quarterback Hank Bachmeier, who has flourished in the first season under offensive coordinator Tim Plough's up-tempo spread attack.

"We just have to play to our assignments," said BYU cornerback Kaleb Hayes, an Oregon State transfer with seven tackles and four pass breakups as a Cougar. "That counts for everybody on the field; we're always preached to do our 1/11th. We've got to trust our teams. The play is going to come our way."

The visitors have been better in the red zone, allowing just seven rushing touchdowns all year. But Allgeier, who ran for 123 yards last year against the Broncos, has seven touchdowns by himself for a BYU squad that has never trailed in 2021, one of four teams that can make such a claim.

"It's fun. That's the one word I can say: It's fun every single play that we're in there," Barrington said of Allgeier. "I love the guy; he's such a great dude and such a great person. I'm so happy to see him have the success that he does.

"He makes us right a lot of the time. We're grateful for him back there, as well as for (Lopini Katoa) and all the other guys back there."

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