PAYSON, Ariz. - Fifth-year senior Laiu Moeakiola is starting his final ASU football fall camp in a familiar position from some time ago. The only difference this time around — and a big one, at that — is the responsibility he carries to shore up a defensive back group looking to turn the page from a difficult 2015 season.

Moeakiola will be moving back to safety this year, returning to the position he played as a true freshman in 2012. While he started his career as a Sun Devil at free safety, his new role on 2016 will be at Bandit (strong) safety).

As a true freshman in 2012, he played just two games before an injury forced him to redshirt. In 2014, a shoulder injury hampered him, but he managed to tally 72 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks he amassed the two years ago. He started all 12 games last year, but Injury affected him as he amassed just 51 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks at the hybrid linebacker/safety SPUR position.

But in 2016, he faces a new challenge that may be just as difficult as overcoming those injuries. After being held out of contact in spring ball because of that shoulder, he is largely tasked with leading the hopeful resurgence of a secondary that ranked last in the FBS in total passing yards allowed and passing yards per game.

Moeakiola said the defense as a whole has emphasized one thing heading into the fall.

“Starting from square one,” he said. “That’s just getting to know each other. We’ve got a bunch of new faces. These guys aren’t new to football…It’s just more of an emphasis that we’re making this year on the back end, holding each other accountable to what we want to accomplish.”

He said there has been an adjustment period in understanding the scheme and getting situated at safety once again, but that the players around him have been helping him out.

Defensive backs coach TJ Rushing praised Moeakiola’s performance in his new role thus far.

“(He’s a) True football player,” Rushing said. “He does whatever he’s asked to do, has great position flexibility, and wherever we need him to go, he can go and be an impact player there.”

The adjustment period will not stop Moeakiola from being the typical fifth-year senior leader on a college football team though. One who has seemingly been through everything possible.

He said he knows what it takes to win 10 games, and was part of two teams that did so back-to-back. He was also a co-captain on last year’s sub. 500 team.

“He’s a dude who does everything right,” Rushing said. “(He’s a) high-character guy. First one on the grass, first one in meetings. He’s a dude that all the guys look up to, all the guys respect because he’s gone through so many things and he’s always here to fight for the Sun Devil brotherhood.”

Added redshirt sophomore defensive back Armand Perry: “Laiu is a very humble, loving type of person. We bond well. We’re always in the film room together and (he is) just a guy who’s played in the system and who has experience in the Pac-12. It’s always great to have him on your team.”

The inexperience of ASU’s projected secondary has not come without concern for many fans, especially after the secondary’s rough 2015 season.

But perhaps that youth is not such a bad thing, according to Moeakiola.

“A lot of them are young and they came (into the program) together,” Moeakiola said. “They remind me of when I first came in with Carlos (Mendoza) and Salamo (Fiso). When you have a team that’s gelled like that, you know that you can count on them when it’s crunch time.”

Wednesday marked the first time in the Todd Graham era that ASU started fall camp with Camp Tontozona. Although the first practice was moved to Rumsey Park in Payson due to heavy rainfall, the team is still receiving the full bonding experience that comes with staying at the camp about 17 miles from Payson, which has become the program’s iconic tradition.

Every year, Camp Tontozona helps the team develop the brotherhood and camaraderie that helps push it through the ups and downs of a long season.

“I think that’s our specialty, our niche,” Moeakiola said. “It’s not just something that’s surface-level. It’s detailed, it’s beyond that. Guys really diving into each other’s personal lives. Some of these guys I’ll have relationships with for the rest of my life.”