Utah won a key recruiting battle over an SEC school.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salesi Moa, Fremont wide receiver and strong safety is pictured during a game against Weber High School on Aug. 15, 2025.
Utah landed a commitment from four-star recruit Salesi Moa on Thursday after a tight recruiting battle with the Tennessee Volunteers.
The Ogden native is rated as the No. 1 recruit in Utah and the 45th best player in the country, according to 247Sports’ Composite Rankings.
Moa, who originally committed to Tennessee in August, was the only 2026 Volunteer recruit not to sign his national letter of intent after the early signing period opened on Wednesday.
Reports then surfaced that the Utes were making a late push for the Fremont High School product before he ultimately committed to the Utes. His father, Ben Moa, played for Utah as a tight end in the early 2000s.
With Moa’s signature locked in, the Utes’ recruiting class now ranks 28th in the nation and fourth in the Big 12.
Moa is the second-highest rated recruit in Utah’s 2026 recruiting class behind five-star offensive tackle Kelvin Obot from Fruitland High School in Fruitland, Idaho.