Sione Takitaki
Linebacker #16
Ht/Wt
6'
2"
|
230 lbs.
Class
Senior
Hometown
Fontana, 
California
Last School
Heritage High School
Roster Years
2014-2018


Personal

  • Parents are father Vaimaua and mother Fissipeau
  • Married to his wife Alyssa
  • Is the youngest of seven with four sisters and two brothers
  • Played volleyball in high school
  • Major is sociology

Before BYU

  • Three-star prospect by ESPN.com, Scout.com, Rivals.com and 247Sports.com 
  • No. 24 inside linebacker in the nation and No. 49 overall prospect from California by ESPN.com 
  • All-CIF Southern Section Central Division and Defensive Player of the Year 
  • Helped Heritage High School to a 13-1 record as a senior 
  • Totaled 193 tackles over his three-year varsity career with 162 solo tackles, 21.5 sacks and 42.5 tackles for loss while also adding a blocked punt, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception 
  • Also played offense as a junior and senior, totaling 1,673 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns to average 7.12 yards per carry   
  • Coached by Kraig Broach 
  • Also recruited by Arizona, Boise State, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State, Utah, Washington State and Wisconsin
BYU Hall of Fame

Freshman Year 2014

  • Tallied two sacks, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two quarterback hurries against UCF
  • Played in 11 games and recorded 19 tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks on the season
  • Earned letterman honors as a freshman
Sophmore Year 2015

  • Had his first career fumble recovery in the third quarter against ECU and finished the game with five tackles, including 2.5 TFL and two sacks
  • Notched a career high in total tackles (9), solo stops (5) and assisted tackles (4) to go along with two tackles for loss in the win over Cincinnati
  • Played in six games and started two
Junior Year 2017

  • Played in 13 games, starting 12
  • Ranked second on the team in tackles with 79, including 43 solo stops
  • Led the team with 12.5 TFL for 62 yards
  • Posted career highs in TFL (3) and sacks (2) against Portland State
  • Had a career-high 11 tackles at Fresno State
  • Also had five sacks for 36 yards
  • Received Defensive Player of Year at the annual team banquet
Senior Year 2018

  • Played in 13 games starting all 13, playing both outside and middle linebacker positions
  • Totaled 118 tackles, 31st nationally, to lead the Cougars
  • Led BYU in both unassisted (74) and assisted (44) tackles
  • Added nine tackles for loss, three sacks, four quarterback hurries, three pass breakups and a forced fumble
  • 2018 Phil Steele All-Independent First Team
  • Sports Illustrated All-Bowl Team
  • USA Today All-Bowl Team
  • 2019 The Draft Network All-Shrine Team
  • 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl invitation
  • 2019 East-West Shrine Game invitation
  • 2019 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl invitation
  • College Sports Madness National Defensive Player of the Week–Week 3
  • College Sports Madness Independent Defensive Player of the Week–Week 3
  • College Sports Madness Independent Defensive Player of the Week–Week 11
  • 2018 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award watch list
  • 2018 Team Captain
  • Recorded a career-best 19 tackles in BYU’s 49-18 bowl victory over Western Michigan
  • Set BYU record for total tackles in a bowl with nation’s top performance (19)
  • His 19 tackles was one shy of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl record
  • His 19 tackles in a single game ranks No. 4 at BYU (since NCAA tracked starting in 2000)
  • Posted personal best 10 assisted and 9 solo tackles in BYU's bowl victory over Western Michigan
  • Became the 68th BYU player to post 100 or more tackles in a single year
  • Recorded career-high two pass breakups at Arizona
  • Recorded 14 total tackles and a forced fumble at Gillette Stadium in win over UMass
  • Tallied double-digit tackles six times including No. 6 Wisconsin (12), Northern Illinois (11), Boise State (11), UMass (14), No. 17 Utah (11) and Western Michigan (19)
  • Between the LYnes web chat with Butch Pau'u at Media Day 
Graduate Year

Redshirt Year

  • Missed the 2016 season
Medical Redshirt Year



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    Football | Dec, 21

    BYU vs. WMU Postgame Notes

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    Football | Nov, 10

    BYU at UMass postgame notes

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    Football | Aug, 08

    2015 fall practice begins