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On3 Consensus four-star Liona Lefau commits to Texas

On3 imageby:Justin Wells•06/25/22
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Liona Lefau during his visit to Austin. (courtesy of Lefau)

Only days after landing Arch Manning, Texas snagged Kahuku (Hi) LB native Liona Lefau today.

The 6-foot-2, 211-pound On3 four-star chose Texas over Oregon, USC, and Washington. Lefau represents a big get for Texas linebacker coach Jeff Choate.

A “throwback” defender of sorts, Lefau is your old school inside linebacker that’ll shoot gaps, not get caught in the wash, and play sideline to sideline.

Lefau is the ninth member of Texas’ 2023 class, joining Arch Manning, Ryan Niblett, Dylan Spencer, Jamel Johnson, Tre Wisner, Will Randle, Spencer Shannon, and S’Maje Burrell.

“Texas provides me the opportunity to do something that isn’t common, which is being a Polynesian linebacker playing at Texas,” he told On3. “I also like the opportunity to be able to play in the SEC if I was to play for Texas.”

Inside Texas’ Eric Nahlin recently wrote:

“Lefau took his official visit to Texas this past weekend and the staff finds itself on solid footing.”

More from Nahlin:

We knew Texas was in it, but we did not foresee a decision this soon for the Liona Lefau.

Here’s what’s going through my mind:

— Hawaiian players are harder to land the further you go from Hawaii and the more Hawaiian or Polynesian players you have on your roster the easier it is to sign more. Virtuous cycles, imo. They are big on heritage, tradition, and family. Without primary knowledge, I think it’s easy to deduce Jake Langi in the personnel department did a great job when Lefau visited. Lefau could potentially help Steve Sarkisian unlock more players from California, Hawaii, and Utah.

— Two real linebackers in the class, what is happening? Lefau commits a few months after S’Maje Burrell. These guys are well suited to playing fast and physical while not getting roasted in pass coverage. Linebacker is a monstrous roster need given lack of proven players and last year’s woeful class.

— The timing is curious. I doubt it had much to do with Arch Manning’s commitment, but maybe they applied the slightest leverage with Anthony Hill on campus?

— I asked about Lefau to a source not long ago. I was told they liked him individually or as a package with Tausili Akana. They are from the same town (Kuhuku). That was interesting because I didn’t mention anything about a package deal. Akana is an Edge currently living in Utah whose sister just portaled from Nebraska to Texas to play volleyball. The fact pattern here is quite interesting.

— We know they’re about to go on a recruiting rip, but really good recruiting is when quality players drop out of nowhere. We were watching a quartet when Lefau joined in with his little string instrument. The staff is doing a good job of getting guys interested in the program, some just need that nudge.

— Numbers are a question every time Texas gets a new commitment. This is easy, they’ll wait out Anthony Hill and if they don’t land him, they’ll evaluate the position further.

— Guys like Akana and Derion Gullette are Edges so they shouldn’t factor at off-ball LB.

— Choate the GOAT. While I say that somewhat tongue in cheek, it’s mostly a jab at the junior experts who fired him last year. Let the guy get his players and coach them up.

— North Shore is easily the best surfing movie about a kid from Arizona who won a wave pool surfing contest who spent his winnings to move to Hawaii to learn how surf, shape boards, fight local bullies, and fall in love.

Lefau is the No. 321 prospect in the 2023 class, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He ranks as the nation’s No. 28 linebacker and the No. 1 junior prospect in the Aloha State.

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