Hinckley Ropati To People Concerned With BYU’s RBs: ‘Don’t Worry At All’

PROVO, Utah— Will Hinckley Ropati be BYU’s starting running back when they open the 2024 season against Southern Illinois on August 31?

We’ll see.

After Wednesday’s opening practice of fall camp, the senior Ropati lined up with the first-team offense at running back.

Returning sophomore LJ Martin, the assumed starter entering the season did not participate in the split team portions during a media observation window.

Head coach Kalani Sitake said Martin, who he called a “leader” of the team on Wednesday, did practice.

Coming into fall camp, there was rampant speculation that Martin was banged up and wouldn’t be ready for fall camp. That speculation only increased when he wasn’t participating in the 11-on-11 portions of practice on Wednesday.

BYU did not bring in a transfer portal running back, as they have done a handful of times during these past five portal cycles.

So that brings Ropati, who players on the team call “Folau” (his middle name), into focus for BYU’s backfield.

The former JUCO transfer in the 2020 class has dealt with multiple season-ending injuries during his time at BYU. Last year, during this time in camp, he suffered an ACL injury.

He’s had flashes of success as a BYU Cougar. Most notably in road wins at Boise State and Stanford in 2022, where he was a threat in the receiving game and on the ground.

However, he appears poised to have a significant impact in his final season at BYU.

Hinckley Ropati has confidence in the BYU RB unit in 2024

Ropati was one of the standouts during the 20 minutes of media observation on day one. He broke free on a big run up the middle. That led to quarterback Gerry Bohanon pointing to the sky immediately when he handed the rock off to the compact ball carrier.

The KSL Sports Zone’s DJ and PK spoke with Ropati and asked what he would say to people who were “worried about” BYU’s “running back position.”

“Don’t worry at all. I really mean that,” Ropati told the KSL Sports Zone.

He continued, “We added some important pieces in terms of—not just players—but the coaching staff. We’ve got guys like Coach Woods coming in and developing our O-line and guys like Coach Gilbride. So we’re in great hands. The way we’ve been working this offseason, I’m actually more excited than anything for people to see how much our run game is going to improve and how much we’re going to take off.”

BYU football wants the ground game to be a top priority

The ground attack has been priority number one this season for offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick.

Last year’s rushing game was one of the worst in the Kalani Sitake era. BYU finished 118th nationally, averaging 104.3 yards per game.

A far cry from the dominant play displayed years prior with Tyler Allgeier in a wide zone scheme.

Year Two in the Big 12

BYU enters its second season in the Big 12 Conference after an underwhelming 5-7 overall record a year ago.

The hierarchy and identity of the Big 12 are up for grabs in the new 16-team league. But one thing is certain about Big 12 football this fall: the running backs are elite.

Ollie Gordon at Oklahoma State, Devin Neal from Kansas, Kansas State has DJ Giddens, and Dylan Edwards, RJ Harvey and Penny Boone at UCF, West Virginia boast Jaheim White and CJ Donaldson, and so on.

BYU needs an impactful ground attack to navigate one of the toughest schedules in the league.

“I think that the biggest thing is we know that we can compete with these guys an day, any given day,” Ropati said on the Big 12. “If we play our brand of football, that we know how to play, and we come out and execute the way we know how to execute, we can compete with any of these teams.”

Hinckley Ropati is competing in a new-look BYU Football RB unit

Ropati will compete with LJ Martin, fellow fifth-year player Miles Davis, and freshmen Pokaiaua Haunga, and Jovesa Damuni for playing time in this year’s running back unit.

“I think nobody’s really worried about who’s going to be that guy,” Ropati said. “We’re just coming in competing every day like we’re going to be that guy.”

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.

Take us with you wherever you go.

Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. You can stream live radio and video and stay up to date on all of your favorite teams.

Follow @Mitch_Harper