The 6-foot-4, 210 pound former 4-star recruit put forth solid play during BYU’s 69-0 win over Portland State to start the season, and then upped his play substantially during last week’s 27-3 victory over Stanford. Rotating in at both the free and strong safety positions, Faletau logged four tackles, an interception and was central in a defensive stop that resulted in a rare safety scored by the Cougar defense.

Overall his performances have warranted an 89.0 defensive rating from Pro Football Focus, almost a full ten points clear of linebacker Jack Kelly (79.8), whose play has also been exceptional.

“He’s right where we want him to be,” said BYU Defensive Coordinator Jay Hill during the week leading up to the game versus Stanford. “He continues to make strides and he keeps playing better each week. I love where he’s at and he’s only going to continue to get better and better…He’s a very valuable weapon we have in a lot of phases.”

Satuala, who prepped at Bountiful High School, signed as the headliner of BYU’s 2024 recruiting class and was rated a 4-star prospect by the 247 network and other national recruiting services. He opted to sign with the Cougars over a bevy of offers from such programs as Utah, USC, Tennessee, Arizona State and UCLA, among many others for several reasons, although one primary reason stands out.

Courtesy BYU Photo

“The biggest reason I came to BYU was because of Coach Hill,” Satuala said. “He’s the smartest coach I’ve ever met and he’s even surpassed my expectations since I’ve been here. Being able to learn from him, and also Coach (Gavin) Fowler every day, both on and off the field, has been so beneficial.”

Last season saw Satuala received immediate playing time as a true freshman, an exercise that brought mixed results. He finished his initial season with nine tackles and an interception while seeing spot duty at both safety positions, which is a difficult task given the complexities of playing safety at the collegiate level.

“It’s not easy, and I learned that you really have to put the work in every day,” Faletau said of his initial season. “I feel like I could have done a lot better with those things, looking back, but having that experience and learned from it has definitely helped me this year. It’s all about learning and understanding the playbook, and I feel I’ve worked a lot better doing that this season.”

Earning playing time in BYU’s crowded safety room isn’t an easy task. Most observers would tab the position as possibly the deepest on the team, considering standouts such as Tanner Wall, Raider Damuni, Talan Alfrey and Tommy Prassas all competing for playing time at two positions.

But Satuala has been grateful for the competition, and also for the notes that have been readily shared with him from his teammates since arriving in Provo.

“I sit right in between Talan and Raider every day and they’ve both been so great to learn from, along with Tanner,” Satuala said. “Even in the weight room they’re all there pushing to get the most out of me and I definitely appreciate all of it. Competing against all of them has definitely lifted my game. It’s been a great situation for me.”

While most of the safeties on BYU’s roster have proven capable, what Satuala has is an extraordinary ability, given his superior size and length, both of which have earned him increased reps this season.

“He made several plays today that other players couldn’t make just because of his length,” Hill commented following the Tuesday practice session prior to the game against the Cardinal. “He has great athleticism, great tenacity, and he’s really learned to strain and go hard. Again, he’s just scratching the surface of what I know he will become.”

As for Satuala, he was hesitant to put any spotlight on himself following his standout performance against Stanford, or at any other time, for that matter.

“Just keeping my head down and keep working is what’s going to get me more reps, but also I trust whenever any other guy is out there,” he said when asked as to his increased playing time and subsequent uptick in overall performance. “Coach Hill is going to have the right guys out there and they’re going to make the play.”

As far as his personal goals and expectations this season, Satuala simply wants to make the most of his opportunities.

“I just want to win and do whatever my part is to help us win,” he concluded. “It’s all of our jobs to make everyone else’s job easier, and that’s what it’s all about for me. If it’s my job to make interceptions, tackles and anything else, then that’s what I’ll do. But if it’s to cover something that allow others to make the same type of plays, then that’s just as important.”