When BYU released its depth chart for the 2024 opener against Southern Illinois, Sione Moa wasn’t on it. However, by the fourth game of the season, the true freshman was in the starting lineup.
So how does an unknown like Moa leapfrog LJ Martin, Hinckley Ropati, Miles Davis, Enoch Nawahine and Pokaiaua Haunga to become BYU’s top gun against No. 13 Kansas State in the Big 12 opener on ESPN?
Timing and tackling.
The injury bug took out Martin and Ropati and the limited production from Davis, Nawahine and Haunga opened the door for the sixth-string runner to make his move. At a modest 5-10 and a robust 215 pounds, Moa’s physique makes him tough to tackle.
“I think I’m short. I mean, I’m pretty small,” Moa said with a laugh. “Being small and having legs that are too big is a good combination for me.”
Against the favored Wildcats, Moa rushed 15 times for a game-high 76 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter in BYU’s 38-9 victory. During the scamper to the end zone, eight K-State defenders got their hands on him, but nobody could bring him down.
Moa’s moment of glory, however, was short-lived. During his first Division One touchdown run, the Victorville, California, product who played his high school football at nearby Timpview, injured his foot and only had 14 additional carries the rest of the season.
Four of those rushes came against Colorado in the Alamo Bowl. Moa picked up 25 yards and ran for a nine-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to send him into the offseason full of optimism.
This fall camp is a lot different for Moa. His standing on the depth chart is up to No. 2 right behind Martin and his role in the offense is increasing, too.
“My goals for camp are to become a better receiver out of the backfield. I’m trying to replicate what Harvey (Unga) had going on when he was at BYU,” Moa said. “I also want to become a better blocker for my quarterback — those are the two things I want to progress on during camp.”
Unga, Moa’s running back’s coach, rushed for 3,455 yards and 36 touchdowns at BYU (2006-2009). He also caught 102 passes for 1,085 yards and nine touchdowns and was a suitable blocker for his quarterback — Max Hall who is the winningest QB in program history (32-7).
In addition to playing more, Moa and his comrades in the running backs room want to do more to help whoever the starting quarterback is going to be.
“We need to take that load on our shoulders and run the ball as good as we can so it can open more of the field for our boys in the backfield,” he said. “It is a lot more than we took on last year, but it’s nothing we can’t handle. We are ready.”
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.