Salesi Moa hasn’t played a down of college football yet, but his recruitment journey has already taken some notable turns-and now, he’s headed to Ann Arbor.
The highly touted athlete, who originally committed to Tennessee before flipping to Utah, has entered the transfer portal and committed to Michigan. The move comes in the wake of Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham stepping away from the program.
Moa had signed with the Utes, but Whittingham’s departure opened the door for a shift. Now, Moa is set to follow the veteran coach to the Wolverines, according to Rivals.
This isn’t Michigan’s first connection to Moa, either. The Wolverines’ previous coaching staff was also heavily involved in his recruitment, and that familiarity likely played a role in his decision.
A legacy recruit for Utah-his father suited up at tight end for the Utes-Moa had strong family ties to the program. But his football bloodlines stretch beyond Salt Lake City. One brother is currently at UConn, another at Michigan State, and both schools were reportedly in the mix during his decision-making process.
Moa enters the Michigan fold as one of the top athletes in the country. He’s ranked No. 45 overall in the 247Sports Composite and is considered the No. 3 athlete nationally, as well as the top-ranked player out of Utah. At one point, he held a five-star rating before a recent rankings update nudged him into four-star territory-still elite company, and still a major win for the Wolverines.
Had he stuck with Tennessee, Moa would’ve been the first player from Utah to sign with the Vols. There was a hometown connection there too-Josh Heupel, Tennessee’s head coach, began his college playing career at Weber State, right in Moa’s backyard.
As for what Moa brings to the field? He’s a true two-way threat.
Whether it’s at wide receiver or defensive back, he’s shown flashes of being a game-changer. He’s expected to start on one side of the ball, but his versatility gives coaches plenty of options.
Tennessee has tried similar two-way experiments with players like Dee Williams and Boo Carter, though those efforts faced challenges-Williams switched midseason, and Carter ran into off-field issues.
Moa, however, seems built for the challenge. He’s been described as a polished route runner with the ability to get behind defenders and make plays deep.
He’s elusive in the open field, with strong vision and agility after the catch. While he may not have top-end breakaway speed just yet, he compensates with savvy and physicality-traits that show up whether he’s catching passes or laying hits on defense.
“Productive two-way athlete with slick athleticism that could play on either side of the ball in college, but might make the most sense at wide receiver,” wrote 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins. “Frequently finds ways to slip behind defenders and race into the deeper third… Shifty and elusive after the catch… Constantly plays with a chip on his shoulder and doesn’t lack physicality.”
That chip-on-the-shoulder mentality could serve him well in the Big Ten, especially as Michigan transitions into a new era under Whittingham. For the Wolverines, adding a player of Moa’s caliber-one with elite upside and positional flexibility-is a major boost.
As for Tennessee? They still came out strong in this cycle.
Even without Moa, the Vols landed a top-five class nationally, according to 247Sports. But there’s no doubt losing a dynamic athlete like Moa stings a bit-especially when he had the potential to be a unique piece in their system.
Now, it’s Michigan that gets to unlock that potential. And if Moa’s past performances are any indication, he won’t be waiting long to make an impact.