TEMPE, Ariz. -- When Keith Patterson joined Todd Graham's staff at Arizona State in February, he wasn't sure what to make of Laiu Moeakiola. The third-year sophomore was making a full-time transition from safety to spur linebacker, and from the way Patterson talks, it seems he was expecting a project.
"I'm just going to be honest with you, it was a whole new deal for him -- trying to get him to play physical and develop a linebacker-type mentality," Patterson said.
Moeakiola showed progress in the spring, but Patterson wasn't sold. Those doubts are long gone, however. Moeakiola starts at spur, and after a big performance in ASU's win over New Mexico, he was named a team captain.
"Probably no player on the team surprised me more through fall camp than he did because of his development," Patterson said. "From where he was in the spring to where he is now, it's not even close."
Moeakiola took the starting spur job early in fall camp and never let go. Through two games, he's second on ASU with 13 tackles, including 2 1/2 for loss and one sack. Nine of those tackles came against New Mexico.
"I thought he played by far his best game and was really impressive," Graham said. "I just like everything about him. He's a guy I totally trust with anything. Kind of like a Taylor Kelly on defense."
As much as he likes Moeakiola's ability, Graham might appreciate his leadership even more. As ASU battled against New Mexico's challenging triple option offense, Moeakiola helped keep teammates focused, reminding them to do the things they were coached to do and to remain true to their assignments.
Graham was so impressed he designated Moeakiola a captain for the season alongside senior safety Damarious Randall and tight end/Devil-backer De'Marieya Nelson.
"If I picked somebody on defense myself that I thought epitomized leadership it would be him," Graham said. "Character, on a scale of one to 10? Eleven. Smart, disciplined, selfless -- unbelievably selfless.
"Since I've been here, Laiu's the best example for a defensive leader we've had."
Even though it's only his third year at ASU, it's been a bit of a journey for Moeakiola so far. He played in two games as a freshman in 2012, recording 3 1/2 tackles and an interception in his first game before suffering a season-ending injury in the second.
Moeakiola began last season as ASU's starting free safety but eventually lost the job to Randall. He moved to spur in the second half of the year but missed time with a concussion. He finished the year with 21 tackles in 10 games.
Now it appears Moeakiola has found a new home within ASU's defense.
"I'm starting to understand more of the concept and why we do things at that position," he said. "It makes me understand the safeties and what their responsibilities are, and the defensive end. So spur tells you a lot about the defense."
Moeakiola wasn't initially an ideal fit at spur, a hybrid linebacker/defensive back position. He had the speed, instincts and athleticism to play the position, which typically blitzes the quarterback more than any other position, but his physicality was lagging.
"The closer you move to the line of scrimmage, obviously the more physical the game gets," Patterson said. "When you practice with linebackers and you go through tackling drills and getting off blocks with linebackers -- bigger, more physical guys -- I think you'll either learn to be more physical or change positions."
Moeakiola learned to be more physical despite being smaller (6 feet and 215 pounds) than ASU's past two spur linebackers (Anthony Jones and Chris Young). The increased physicality checked the last box Moeakiola needed.
"He's very smart, he is very instinctive, and he's surprisingly explosive and fast as a blitzer," Patterson said. "I think that's been the biggest change from spring to now -- how explosive he is and his ability to change directions."
It would be premature to call Moeakiola's transition a complete success. ASU has so far faced a lower-division opponent and a team with an offense only run at a handful of Division I programs. Greater tests in Pac-12 play will be more revealing, but the coaching staff feels good about the early returns.
And they feel even batter about the leadership Moeakiola has provided in the huddle and on the sidelines for a young defense that is still finding its footing.
"Whatever actions I take, I should just lift up my players, whether that's in the classroom or on the football field," Moeakiola said. "Coach says it's easy to talk the talk, but you have to walk the walk."
Follow Tyler Lockman on Twitter
