Another University of Utah wide receiver has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, and this one is going to hurt.
Samson Nacua, a senior with 45 career games played, entered the transfer portal on Friday afternoon, a source with access to the transfer portal told The Salt Lake Tribune.
Nacua is the second depth-chart receiver to leave Utah this month after Bryan Thompson entered the transfer portal on Feb. 2. Thompson, who will be a redshirt sophomore in the fall, announced his commitment to Pac-12 South rival Arizona State on Feb. 18.
In those 45 career games, Nacua registered 1,015 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. His five touchdowns in 2018 led the Utes, while his four scores in 2019 were tops among wide receivers.
Thompson and his big-play ability, which never fully manifested at Utah, was one thing, but Nacua’s experience and long-term production leaving is quite another as Utah prepares to begin spring practice next month.
Nacua’s exit leaves redshirt junior Britain Covey (19 catches, 264 yards, 3 TDs) in 2020 and junior Solomon Enis (11-108-1) as Utah’s top returning wide receivers. The next-best veteran option is redshirt freshman walk-on Devaughn Vele (2-12-0).
All-Pac-12 tight end Brant Kuithe opted against entering the NFL Draft and will return as a junior after catching a team-high 25 passes for 236 yards in 2020.
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