Lehi High product Devaughn Eka is moving up BYU's running back depth chart after teammate Sione Moa's season ended with a torn MCL and PCL.

Moa, who had six carries for 22 yards before leaving BYU's 63-7 win over Utah Tech on Sept. 5, announced the injury Wednesday, Sept. 9, on Instagram, according to the Deseret News. He has already undergone surgery. It marks the second straight season Moa has faced a major health setback after compartment syndrome cost him 10 games in 2025.

"I would be lying if I said these past few days haven't been my hardest days mentally," Moa wrote in his post.

Eka, a true freshman who enrolled at BYU in January after rushing for 3,276 yards in his Lehi High career, led the Cougars in rushing in his college debut. He carried eight times for 59 yards and scored on an 11-yard run in which he plowed over two defenders to reach the end zone.

On his very first collegiate carry, he hurdled a would-be tackler.

BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said Tuesday, Sept. 8, that both Eka and walk-on freshman Journee Tonga showed enough against Utah Tech to earn playing time in Saturday, Sept. 12's Big 12 opener against Arizona and beyond. Junior Preston Rex is expected to serve as the primary backup behind reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin, with Eka and Tonga filling situational roles.

Roderick declined to assign a fixed depth-chart ranking to either freshman. "It's about certain situations that come up in the game," Roderick told the Deseret News. "If a certain situation comes up first, and it's that guy's turn to do that thing that he does well, then he's going in."

After Tuesday's practice, Eka stayed on the field and worked one-on-one with running backs coach Harvey Unga for about 15 minutes. Eka said he is focused on learning the playbook and being ready whenever his number is called.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound back was recruited to BYU primarily by Unga. He said Big 12 membership and proximity to home drove his decision. Lehi sits about 20 miles north of Provo.

Eka and former Lehi teammate Legend Glasker both graduated early and enrolled at BYU in January. Glasker, a wide receiver, scored three touchdowns in the same Utah Tech game. According to Lehi Free Press, Glasker became the first BYU true freshman with three or more touchdowns in a game since Jamaal Williams scored four against Georgia Tech in 2012.

Tonga, a 5-foot-8 walk-on who turned down scholarship offers from Hawaii, San Jose State and Southern Utah, had two carries for 38 yards against Utah Tech. His first collegiate carry went for 34 yards. He added a 4-yard touchdown run.

The real test comes Saturday, Sept. 12, when BYU hosts Arizona at 1:30 p.m. MDT at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo. The game airs on Fox. Arizona beat Northern Arizona 35-7 in its opener and fielded one of the nation's top defenses in 2025.

Roderick said the young backs will need to prove they can block, break tackles and run physically against a team he called "very, very good" and "very physical."