Kalani Sitake and the BYU football program will begin fall camp at the end of this month.
Once camp begins, BYU will have five weeks to prepare for their season opener against Southern Illinois. A few returning players will try out new positions in 2024, including wide receiver turned tight end Keanu Hill and defensive end turned linebacker Aisea Moa.
Aisea Moa
Moa, a four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, has progressed as a defensive end in his first two years with the program. Moa played a variety of positions as an outstanding prospect at Weber High School, including defensive end, defensive tackle, and linebacker. When he was recruited in high school, his physique indicated that he would play defensive line at the next level. After all, his father developed into a 260-pound tight end at the University of Utah.
He hasn’t gained as much weight as was expected when he signed; he has remained around 240 pounds during his BYU career. Instead of gaining more weight than his body can handle, he will lose a few pounds and play linebacker at 235 pounds in 2024. Perhaps switching to linebacker will allow him to see the field earlier.
He will not be the only Moa in the linebackers’ room. His brother, Sione Moa, is a BYU linebacker who transferred from Utah State.
Keanu Hill
On signing day, BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick stated that veteran wide receiver Keanu Hill will transition to tight end for the 2024 season. Roderick mentioned that Hill had struggled to control his weight. Instead of fighting his body’s natural weight, Roderick explained, BYU’s offensive coaches advised him to gain weight and play a different position.
This is exactly what Keanu has done in the offseason. Hill was described at 6’4 and 215 pounds in 2023. He has gained 25 pounds to 240 pounds in preparation for fall camp. That gives Hill enough weight to play tight end. Last year, BYU’s tight ends averaged 243 pounds.
Hill has played wide receiver since 2019. In his career, he has 73 receptions for over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hill, whom Roderick considers one of the greatest blockers on the squad, may provide a fresh twist as a receiving tight end. If he can get up to speed as tight end, he might have a breakout year in 2024. Hill has always been a skilled route runner. Moving to tight end will allow him to run routes against safeties and linebackers rather than cornerbacks. This will provide some matchup problems for opposition defenses.
BYU Football Position Changes
Here are all the position changes on the 2024 BYU football roster.
- Keanu Hill – Tight End (Listed at Wide Receiver in 2023)
- Koa Eldredge – Safety (Listed at Wide Receiver in 2023)
- Kevin Doe – Cornerback (Listed at Wide Receiver in 2023)
- Landon Rehkow – Punter (Listed at Punter/Kicker in 2023)
- Aisea Moa – Linebacker (Listed at Defensive End in 2023)
- Tyler Little – Defensive Tackle (Listed at Offensive Line in 2023)
- Bruce Mitchell – Offensive Line (Listed at Defensive Tackle in 2023)
