Cowboys' Marist Liufau has family ties with NFL record-setting WR

Dallas Cowboys rookie Marist Liufau has family ties with a 2023 rookie who set multiple NFL records for a first-year player.

Josh Sanchez | Jun 23, 2024

Jun 4, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau (35) goes through drills during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. / Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys rookie Marist Liufau has been turning heads since arriving in Frisco for the team's first rookie minicamp.

Liufau, who was a third-round pick out of Notre Dame, has been earning the respect of Cowboys veteran linebackers and the coaching staff. There is a belief that Liufau could make an immediate impact in Big D. .

And, if his family ties are any. indication, Cowboys fans could be in for a huge treat.

Liufau is cousins with Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver Puka Nucua, who earned a Pro Bowl nod during his rookie campaign.

Nacua also set the NFL rookie single-season records for receptions and receiving yards with 105 and 1,648, respectively. His record-setting performances carried over to the postseason when he broke the rookie record for most receiving yards in a playoff game with 181 yards and a touchdown.

Oct 8, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

“It’s one of the highest bars you could probably set as a rookie, so thanks to Puka for that,” Liufau said, via the Dallas Morning News. “That’s definitely a high bar that Puka has set.”

Cowboys fans can only hope for a fraction of the success to continue running in the family. .

Liufau has additional ties to a former NFL linebacker.

He attended Punahou High School in Honolulu, the same high school as fellow Notre Dame star Manti Te'o. The school also produced late Cowboys lineman and three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Tuinei.

MORE: Marist Liufau earning respect of Dallas Cowboys veterans; exciting coaching staff

Liufau has Te'o to rely on as he makes the jump from college to the pros.

“He’s been a huge mentor for me,” Liufau said. “His thing is this, ‘Let me know if you need anything bro.’”

The Cowboys will report to Oxnard, California, for training camp on July 24. We will have to see how the linebacker competition turns out.

Liafau joins Kendricks, Clark, and DeMarvion Overshown in a linebacking corps that looks drastically different than what we saw last year, and that could be a good thing.

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