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.
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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…
Source link : https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/08/06/byu-football-running-backs-depth-sione-moa-lj-martin/
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Publish date : 2025-08-06 21:00:00
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