BYU 2025 Fall Camp Position Preview: Wide Receivers and Running Backs

PROVO, Utah — BYU football continues its march to the 2025 season in fall camp. Thursday's position preview features two playmaking groups, the wide receivers and running backs. 

Fesi Sitake enters his eighth season at BYU as the wide receivers coach and fifth as the passing game coordinator. Sitake spent time under current BYU associate head coach Jay Hill at Weber State as the offensive coordinator, passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach after getting his start at Southern Utah. 

The wide receiver room starts with returning senior Chase Roberts. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Roberts has led BYU in receiving the past two seasons and is positioned to make a big impact again in 2025. Roberts started all 13 games last season, leading the team with 52 receptions and 854 yards, averaging 16.4 receiving yards per game. The American Fork, Utah product, has four career games with 100 or more receiving yards. Additionally, Roberts was recently named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List in 2025, recognizing the nation's best receiver. 

Jojo Phillips is another receiver set to be a playmaker in 2025. Phillips appeared in all 13 games in 2024, including two starts. The 6-foot-5, 205 pound sophomore totaled 211 receiving yards, averaging 21.1 yards per catch.

Parker Kingston, a redshirt junior from Layton, Utah, is expected to play a key role in the receivers room. He appeared in all 13 games last season, contributing as a receiver, rusher, passer and return specialist. Kingston averaged 15.1 receiving yards and 7.2 rushing yards per game. He is one of only two active FBS players with multiple career games featuring both a passing and receiving touchdown. Kingston has been recognized on the Paul Hornung Watch List, featuring the game's most versatile player. 

Sophomore Cody Hagen is also back after catching three balls last season, averaging 9.7 yards each. Additionally, Tei Nacua, Rowan Reay and Dominique McKenzie are returning to the Cougar lineup with eyes to work into the rotation in 2025. 

Stanford transfer Tiger Bachmeier is a notable addition for BYU. He appeared in all 12 games for the Cardinal in 2024, making six starts. The 6-foot-1, 190 pound junior recorded 46 receptions, 476 yards and two touchdowns at Stanford over two seasons. 

The Cougars also welcome newcomers Lamason Waller III, Reggie Frischknecht, Trey Roberts and Kila Keone. 

Coaching the running backs, Harvey Unga returns for his sixth season leading the group as a full time coach after four seasons as a graduate assistant. Unga played running back at BYU from 2006-09 and remains the only player in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Unga has helped mentor running backs at BYU such as Jamaal Williams, Tyler Allgeier and Christopher Brooks. 

Junior LJ Martin is expected to headline the backfield. The El Paso, Texas native, rushed for 718 yards last season, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. He recorded seven rushing touchdowns and two receiving scores in 2024. The 6-foot-2, 220 pound Martin appeared in 10 games, making eight starts. He was named the 2024 Valero Alamo Bowl Offensive MVP after totaling 121 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-14 win over Colorado. Martin was named to the 2025 Doak Walker Award watch list. 

The 5-foot-10, 215 pound Sione Moa returns for his sophomore season at BYU. Moa played in 11 games last season, making one start. The Victorville, California native, posted several career highs in the Cougars’ 38-9 win over Kansas State, rushing for 76 yards and adding 17 receiving yards, including a 24 yard run. He ran for 150 yards and three scores last season. 

Redshirt senior Enoch Nawahine is set to be another key contributor for BYU. Nawahine appeared in 10 games with one start in 2024, rushing for 51 yards against Baylor for his career high. From Kahuku, Hawaii, Nawahine scored one touchdown last year in the win at SMU.

Jovesa Damuni, who redshirted in 2024, is another player vying for a spot to contribute in 2025. The 6-foot, 190-pounder out of Ridgeline High School adds speed and versatility to the lineup. 

Preston Rex, who moved from safety to running back in fall camp, is set for his redshirt junior season as a Cougar. Rex appeared in nine games in 2023 and one matchup in 2024. Lucky Finau, Kason Krebs and Charles Miska are also part of the running back room looking to contribute. 

Additionally, BYU welcomes Logan Payne, a 5-foot-10, 215 pound graduate of Weber High School. His brother, Tyler, is in the linebacker room and their father, Matt Payne, was an All-American punter and kicker at BYU from 2000-04.