When oft-injured BYU running back Miles Davis entered the transfer portal last December as a graduate transfer and eventually signed with Utah State, the move wasn’t of much concern for BYU fans and coaches.
It was seen by many as a positive development for both programs, given the backlog of young talent at BYU and new USU coach Bronco Mendenhall’s need for quality RBs due to a mass exodus of ball carriers leaving Logan after the 2024 season.
Well, BYU could probably use Davis’ services long about now.
That’s mainly because the Cougars have only two experienced running backs in preseason training camp right now, clearcut RB1 LJ Martin and sophomore Sione Moa. Martin rushed for 718 yards on 137 carries last year, while Moa rumbled for 144 yards and three touchdowns and was looking like the next Harvey Unga before an injury in the big win over Kansas State derailed a promising season.
If those two stay healthy and redshirt senior Enoch Nawahine continues to be a reliable backup, BYU should be OK at the position. But all three of those guys have a history of injuries, and rarely does an RB play all 13 games for BYU in a position that gets more than its share of bumps and bruises.
After Davis left, having been at BYU for five seasons and having rushed for 468 yards in 27 career games, BYU coaches didn’t go after an experienced back in the transfer portal — like a Ty’Son Williams, Chris Brooks or Aidan Robbins — because they felt good about how freshman Pokaiaua Haunga (18 carries, 81 yards) was coming along and had signed prep star Cale Breslin, who graduated early and enrolled at BYU in January.
However, Haunga has some “personal issues,” according to BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick, and won’t be with the program in 2025. An injury kept Breslin from participating in spring camp, and after reportedly being told by BYU coaches that they wouldn’t have a roster spot for him in the fall, according to 406mtsports.com, the Las Vegas native entered the transfer portal and landed at Montana State.
At the time, BYU and every other program in the country believed that roster limits were coming due to the House Settlement and that they would have to trim their squads to 105 players. That’s no longer the case, but by then Breslin and several other promising players were gone.
After announcing that Haunga “is not going to be with us this year,” Roderick acknowledged that BYU is trying to get an additional year of eligibility for veteran RB Hinckley Ropati, who rushed for 360 yards last year. Ropati has been working out on his own before and after BYU practices in preseason training camp and appears to be in outstanding shape.
“We’re hopeful,” Roderick said of an appeal to the NCAA. “… We’re waiting. I want to point out what a critical player he was for us last year. We won 11 games, and he was a huge part of our success, and we would love to have him back.”
In the meantime, redshirt junior safety Preston Rex has been moved to running back, joining a group that also includes redshirt freshmen Jovesa Damuni and Charles Miska, sophomores Lucky Finau and Kason Krebs, freshman Logan Payne and the aforementioned Martin, Moa and Nawahine.
Asked about the lack of experienced ball-carriers on Tuesday, head coach Kalani Sitake said he’s not overly concerned.
“We’ve had a deep group (of running backs) for a while now. We’re still waiting on what happens with Folau (Ropati), but I feel really confident with the rest of the guys, the entire group,” he said. “We moved Preston Rex over there. He’s getting some good work, and Sione is doing great there, so I think we’ll be in a good spot, still.”
Logan Payne is a returned missionary from Weber High whose brother, Tyler, is a freshman linebacker on the team and whose father, Matt, was a kicker and punter for BYU. Logan Payne led Utah’s 6A in rushing in 2021 with 191 carries for 1,390 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Jovesa Damuni is the cousin of BYU safety Raider Damuni, a returned missionary, and a former standout receiver and defensive back at Ridgeline High in the Cache Valley.
“Jovesa Damuni hasn’t played for us yet. But he he’s a good player. He’s doing a lot of good things in practice, and he’s kind of different than those other guys. He’s a speed guy and a really good receiver,” Roderick said. “And I’ve seen good things from Logan Payne at running back as well in spring ball. He did a great job, and he’s doing good things out here.
“And Preston Rex is showing up at running back too. He’s doing a great job there. We’ve moved him there, and really, he’s been a pleasant surprise through three practices, how well he’s doing.”
LJ Martin is still the man — when healthy
Of course, all the fretting will be for naught if Martin avoids the injury bug. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior from El Paso, Texas, looks every bit the part of a standout Big 12 running back, having added muscle over the offseason to a sturdy frame.
Roderick said he wants Martin to get “a lot” of carries in 2025, but doesn’t want to put an exact number on it.
“He’s one of our best players. He’s in great shape. He’s really changed his body, if you guys have seen him. He’s leaned out a little bit, and he’s one best players on this team,” Roderick said.
Sitake said from what he’s seen, Martin could carry the ball more than 25 times a game, if that’s what is required of the steady, quiet and blossoming superstar from Texas.
“Last year, he was just fighting to get back and get healthy. Now, I think you guys can see it. He’s a different guy, and he’s kind of matured into his adult body,” Sitake said. “It also helps that he knows the playbook, and he’s not struggling trying to memorize stuff.”
Sitake said Martin has gotten so comfortable now that he has offered his “ideas and thoughts” on how certain plays can be blocked, and whatnot.
“That’s when you know you got a guy that’s kind of a veteran, and you can count on him, and (that) he’s becoming a leader, too,” Sitake said. “The first two years, LJ didn’t talk much. Now he’s speaking up and guys are listening.”
