No. 23 BYU may be getting thin at running back after 'emergency' injury to key backup

PROVO — BYU's offense found a necessary gear to stay undefeated Saturday night, guided by 179 passing yards and a career-high 98 rushing yards from true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier.

But who lines up alongside Bachmeier and in reserve of starting tailback LJ Martin remains anybody's guess as the 23rd-ranked Cougars (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) prepare to host West Virginia in a Friday night homecoming (8:30 p.m. MDT, ESPN).

Head coach Kalani Sitake told BYU Radio ahead of Saturday's road tilt that running back Sione Moa, who had been ruled out for the game with an undisclosed injury, had suffered an emergency setback in the week leading up to the road trip to Boulder.

Moa, a sophomore from Victorville, California, and nearby Timpview High, had 17 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown before exiting the Cougars' 34-13 win over East Carolina. He was reported as "out" on BYU's initial availability report mandated by the Big 12 Conference, and was never in consideration to play.

But prior to Saturday's contest, the 11th-year head coach told longtime BYU broadcaster Greg Wrubell that Moa had suffered an emergency setback before the Rocky Mountain road trip.

"An emergency happened from his injury in the game," said Sitake, declining to go into specifics. "We were able to take him to the hospital and get that worked on. He'll be back this year."

Sitake's usual policy is not to address injuries unless they are of a season-ending variety, which he confirmed Moa's is not. His timeline for a return, however, remains yet to be determined.

"We'll see in the next few weeks how it's going to look," Sitake said. "Glad that he's safe, glad that everything is OK, and that we also get him back this year."

Tommy Prassas, the defensive back who started at nickel against Colorado, was also listed on the Cougars' initial two-deep Monday after the sophomore missed most of the second half in Boulder following what appeared to be an injury to his lower leg/ankle. The first availability report for BYU and West Virginia is expected Tuesday night by 8 p.m. MDT for both teams.

Bachmeier and Martin, who ran for 70 yards on 15 carries, were BYU's primary ball carriers against the Buffaloes, combining for 30 of the squad's 36 carries. The quarterback's 15 carries were two behind Colorado counterpart Kaidon Salter for the game high, and he had 103 rushing yards before taking a knee on consecutive downs following Isaiah Glasker's interception with 50 seconds left.

QB1 isn't upset with the workload, though.

"I think that's just the way I was raised, growing up in a pretty competitive household," said Bachmeier, who bore a shiner under his eye when speaking with the media. "When you step between the lines, and I think it's instilled in this team, that once you step in between the lines then nothing can stop you from getting a first down."

Cody Hagen also scored on a 32-yard reverse, and Parker Kingston added 25 yards on two carries out of the backfield.

Enoch Nawahine and Preston Rex were also called upon at running back, but finished with one combined carry, a 4-yard gain by Nawahine. The duo were listed in reserve behind Martin, with redshirt freshman Jovesa Damuni on the current depth chart.

But Sitake wasn't phased when asked about the thinning group of rushers up in the back field.

"We're fine," he said. "We've got guys who can run the ball. You just don't know about them yet, but there are guys who are capable of running the ball and guys who can play with LJ."

Nawahine is the most experienced of the new group of reserves, as the redshirt senior from Hawaii played in 22 games in his first two seasons after transferring from Utah State (he's only played in two games in 2025, running for 9 yards on four carries, though).

But Sitake is confident that someone from the group — or perhaps others — will find form in the Cougars' absence while Moa returns to health.

"Whether it's Enoch Nawahine or Preston Rex or Logan Payne, Jovesa Damuni; there are a lot of guys that we feel good about in that room," he said. "They probably aren't a lot of names that you guys haven't heard about, but they are super talented and they will make their mark. A lot of you guys didn't know much about Sione Moa, either. I trust (running backs coach) Harvey Unga, and (offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick), and (offensive line coach) TJ Woods, as well."

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