A lot of unsung heroes emerged in BYU's statement-making win over then-No. 2 Notre Dame last Saturday, complementing the incredible and unforgettable performances of quarterback Bear Bachmeier and linebacker Cade Uluave.
Tuesday, the sophomore from Murrieta, California, was named the Associated Press National Player of the Week, and Uluave was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week.
At the top of the list of other key contributors to the victory are the backup running backs, guys who didn't figure to get many carries when the 2026 season began because the Cougars had LJ Martin and Sione Moa back after going 12-2 in 2025. However, Martin sustained a serious ankle injury in the first quarter of the 17-10 win over TCU and Moa got in six carries in the opener against Utah Tech before suffering a knee injury.
Neither has played since, although Moa has been practicing and was cleared to play against the Irish, but did not.
Into the most significant regular-season game in BYU football history stepped junior Preston Rex and freshman Journee Tonga, and both met the moment with aplomb. Rex ran for 66 yards and Tonga ran for 6 yards and caught a 12-yard pass. Just as importantly, their pass protection was on point — Bachmeier was never sacked.
"I love the fact that we have a bunch of guys that are ready to play, and when they don't get the opportunity to play, they're so happy for their brothers that make plays on the field."
"I thought Preston had his best game up to this date, and then Journee didn't make a lot of yards in the run game, but he did some good things, and then he caught a pass out of the backfield and made one of their best players miss in space and made a 12-yard gain for us," offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said Tuesday. "I just thought Journee did a nice job, too. And Devaughn (Eka) didn't get in. That wasn't exactly the plan. We thought he was going to play a little, but I still have a lot of confidence in Devaughn."
Eka, a freshman out of Lehi High, has 15 carries for 101 yards this season, and is one of five BYU ball-carriers who has more than 100 rushing yards this season. Martin's 344 in four games leads the way, followed by Bachmeier's 284, Tonga's 182 and Rex's 181.
Moa ran six times for 22 yards in the opener before going down.
"If we can get Sione going, I feel great about that group," Roderick said.
The OC said whether the oft-injured Moa — he battled a serious case of compartment syndrome last season — plays Saturday (1:30 p.m. MDT, Fox) against UCF remains to be seen.
"He's closer (to playing than Martin)," Roderick said. "We're still evaluating him, but he is cleared to play. …
"With him, it's just a confidence thing. He's been through a lot, and we're not pushing him the way we might someone else."
Obviously, Moa's history with injuries is a big reason for the extraordinary caution.
"Sione's been through some tough things, and so we're just trying to let him work through it, get his confidence back," Roderick said. "When he's ready to go, he'll be on the field because he's a very good player, and he makes us better, for sure."
The Cougars are also without running back Jovesa Damuni , cousin of star safety Raider Damuni. After rushing for 111 yards and a touchdown and shining in the Pop-Tarts Bowl (seven carries, 49 yards) when Martin was undergoing shoulder surgery and Moa was still dealing with the aforementioned injury, Jovesa Damuni sustained a serious knee injury in spring camp.
After pushing his career head coaching record to 90-45 across 10½ seasons at BYU, coach Kalani Sitake said his constant push for player development, and his insistence on getting reserves playing time when games are under control, has paid off in the running backs room.
"Yeah, Preston did some really good things (against Notre Dame)," Sitake said. "Even as a receiver, and in pass pro and things like that, he did a great job. I have been really proud of all those guys, guys that have opportunities to play.
"There are a lot of guys that didn't play at all, but they were ready," Sitake continued. "I love the fact that we have a bunch of guys that are ready to play, and when they don't get the opportunity to play, they're so happy for their brothers that make plays on the field. So, yeah, it was a lot of fun."
After the No. 2 Cougars improved to 6-0 for the third consecutive season, the first time in school history they have achieved that feat, Rex said Martin gathered all the running backs and expressed confidence in them.
"In the Kalani era, almost every season we've had to go four or five deep with running backs, because it is a physical position," Rex said. "It is just the next-man-up mentality, and LJ believes in every single one of us. He's a great role model. It is a lot easier to improve when you have the best (running back) in the Big 12 in your room. We just committed to doing our 1/11th. It was like, 'Just do your job and you're gonna like what happens at the end of the night.'"
Rex's rise from safety in 2022-24 to seldom-used running back in 2025 to where he is now has been well documented . Last year, he was more of a pass-catching threat, with three catches for 50 yards, including a 32-yard reception that helped BYU beat Utah.
He's added a little burst to his game this year, and that showed against Notre Dame.
"I just give all the credit to the O linemen," he said. "They blocked their butts off tonight and gave me some gaps to go through. We had a good scheme. We had a great blocking plan, so it really helps when you have a quarterback like Bear, too, that they have to respect. … I just tried to play my role tonight."
BYU running back Preston Rex (12) runs against Utah linebacker Trey Reynolds (37) during the first quarter of the game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
