An athlete with the ability to play on both sides of the ball at a high level is headed to Rocky Top.
Josh Heupel and Tennessee football have secured the commitment of five-star Salesi Moa. He is the No. 2 athlete and No. 31 recruit in the country, according to 247’s composite rankings. He picked the Vols over Utah, Michigan State, Michigan and Washington.
Moa is from Ogden, Utah, and ranks as the top player from the Beehive State. This will be the first time a player from Utah has played for UT football. Heupel does bring some familiarity with the state, though, as he played at Weber State, a school inside Salesi’s hometown of Ogden, and Snow College.
The belief is that Tennessee may plan to use Moa as both a wide receiver and a defensive back. While it isn’t common under Heupel, the blueprint was beginning to be put in place with Boo Carter getting reps on both sides of the ball in the spring. Dee Williams, naturally a defensive back who returned punts, also got the chance to try to learn the offense in 2023.
“Moa is among the most versatile athletes in the country and is currently being recruited equally hard on both sides of the ball,” 247’s National Recruiting Analyst Greg Biggins wrote. “At 7v7 events and camps, will typically work out at wide receiver and has always been an extremely tough cover. A physical player who shows both initial quickness getting off the line and suddenness getting out of his breaks. Can get deep and stretch the field, runs well after the catch and has very strong hands.”
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Moa took his official visit to Tennessee on June 20, the final of a stretch to see his finalists. He went to see Michigan just before, and Utah and Washington before that. His first official visit was to see Michigan State, the school where his older brother is currently rostered.
The Vols now own 23 commitments inside the 2026 class. This is good for the No. 9 group in the country, according to 247. Moa isn’t the first positionally ambiguous prospect UT has landed, either. Legend Bey is considered an ‘athlete’ prospect who plays quarterback at his high school in Texas. Bey projects to play wide receiver at the college level, though.
Tennessee has also landed in-state athletes in Joel Wyatt and Javonte Smith. Reports indicate the Vols’ staff sees Wyatt as an edge rusher, and with Smith’s recruitment being headed by Willie Martinez, it likely shows they see him as a defensive back.
