BIOGRAPHY
Sione Takitaki was born on June 8th, 1995, in Fontana, California. He is a linebacker in the NFL.
During high school, Takitaki played offense as a junior and senior, totaling 1,673 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns to average 7.12 yards per carrying. He 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.
Takitaki played for the University of South Florida football team from 2014 to 2018. In 2014, Takitaki tallied two sacks, two tackles for loss, one forced a fumble, one fumble recovery, and two quarterback hurries against UCF. He played in 11 games and recorded 19 tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks on the season and Earned letterman honors as a freshman. In 2015 Takitaki 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. Takitaki notched a career-high in total tackles, solo stops and assisted tackles to go along with two tackles for loss in the win over Cincinnati. He played in six games and started two.
As a junior, Takitaki played in 13 games, starting 12. He was ranked second on the team in tackles with 79, including 43 solo stops and led the team with 12.5 TFL for 62 yards. Takitaki posted career highs in TFL and sacks against Portland State, Had a career-high 11 tackles at Fresno State, had five sacks for 36 yards, and received Defensive Player of Year at the annual team banquet. In 2018 Takitaki played in 13 games starting all 13, playing both outside and middle linebacker positions. He totaled 118 tackles, 31st nationally, to lead the Cougars and Led BYU in both unassisted and assisted tackles, added nine tackles for loss, three sacks, four quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble.
Takitaki was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round with the 80th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft.
