Samson Nacua, the UFL receiver with Utah and BYU roots, and a turbulent 2025

Samson Nacua, a 27 year old wide receiver for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League, was arrested in West Hollywood on December 13, 2025 on suspicion of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, a BMW reportedly belonging to Los Angeles Lakers forward Adou Thiero. Deputies tracked the car to the 8400 block of Sunset Boulevard, near 1 Hotel West Hollywood, where two men were detained. Nacua and another suspect were released later that night under California Penal Code 849(b), which indicates insufficient grounds for a complaint at that time, and the investigation remains open. The arrest thrust a spring league role player with deep Utah and BYU ties into an unexpected spotlight as the Panthers break for the offseason.

From Provo to primetime spring football

Nacua’s path has been unconventional, and steady. After starring at Timpview High in Provo, he walked on at Utah, earned a scholarship, then produced in 45 games from 2017 to 2020, leading the Utes in touchdown catches in 2018 and 2019. He transferred across town to BYU for 2021, where he supplied leadership and big plays, finishing with 21 receptions, 329 yards and 3 touchdowns, plus a short rushing score in the Independence Bowl.

The NFL did not come calling on draft weekend in 2022, but the Indianapolis Colts offered a camp shot. Nacua made it to the final week of the preseason before being waived on cutdown day. Spring ball kept his career alive. He appeared with the Pittsburgh Maulers in 2023, then found a steadier role in Michigan during 2024, catching 11 passes for 125 yards as the Panthers rebuilt their offense.

A 2025 season of moments, and a mistake he paid for

Nacua opened 2025 with a clean route and a 25 yard touchdown in the Panthers’ Week 1 win in Memphis, a snapshot of the contested catch skills that made him valuable in red zone packages. Four weeks later, frustration got the best of him after a road loss in St. Louis. In a postgame exchange caught on video, he slapped a heckling fan, a lapse in judgment that drew a league investigation and a one game suspension. He served the ban and returned to a depth role as Michigan pushed toward June’s title game.

By the numbers

December 2025: what is known, and what remains unclear

Authorities say the BMW was located and the suspects were identified at a West Hollywood hotel, where the vehicle had been valeted. Records show Nacua and the second man were arrested, then released later that night under a statute commonly used when there is not yet enough evidence to file a complaint, which underscores that this case is still in flux. As of December 18, investigators had not announced formal charges, and neither Nacua nor representatives for the Lakers rookie had publicly commented.

Key points to track in the coming days:

• Whether prosecutors file a complaint after detectives review additional evidence
• Any public account from Nacua or his representatives on the events before the arrest
• Possible response from the Michigan Panthers and the UFL regarding offseason conduct

Family, footprint and the wider context

Nacua is part of one of the most visible football families in the Intermountain West. Older brother Kai, a safety, shared the Panthers’ locker room this spring, while younger brother Puka has become a star with the Los Angeles Rams. That visibility cuts both ways. For much of 2025, Samson’s name showed up on UFL highlight reels, then for a brief suspension, and now, after an arrest with unresolved facts. His football story is still that of a persistent role player, a special teams contributor and red zone target who carved out opportunities after the NFL door initially closed. Where his legal situation goes, and how it affects his standing with the Panthers as the 2026 spring season approaches, will hinge on what investigators and prosecutors decide, and whether he can keep the focus on the one place he has always stood out, a football field.

College foundation and early pros

Utah years

At Utah, Nacua earned a scholarship after arriving as a walk on, then became a reliable target in a physical offense. He led the team in touchdowns twice, a nod to his ability to win leverage late in routes and work the back line of the end zone.

BYU season and a final impression

BYU needed size on the boundary in 2021, and Nacua delivered as a senior. He averaged more than fifteen yards per catch, he scored on a jet sweep in the Independence Bowl, and he gave a young receiver room a confident voice. His year in Provo propelled him into an NFL camp.

Trying to stick in the NFL, then making a lane in the UFL

The Colts opportunity ended on the final cut to 53. A 2023 cameo in the USFL kept him on radar, and a 2024 move to Michigan gave him his first steady run of pro snaps. New Orleans brought him into camp on August 2, 2024, then waived him on August 27 as the club trimmed its roster. Back in Michigan by the fall, he stayed ready for 2025, where he added two more touchdowns to his spring league ledger.

The bottom line

Samson Nacua’s 2025 included a season opening touchdown, a league suspension he earned and served, and an arrest that, as of mid December, had not produced formal charges. He remains a depth receiver with a knack for contested catches and special teams work, a player who has built a career on resilience. What comes next will depend on both the courts and the choices he makes when the next season kicks off.