If BYU football was missing anything last season it was a consistent pass rush. Sae Tautu did a solid job, but there were many times when the Cougars needed a little bit extra.
This season, they’ve likely found their missing piece, in the returning Sione Takitaki.
It has been a tough road for Takitaki. The last time he was on the football field in a game was on October 16, 2015 when BYU football hosted Cincinnati. In that game he had eight total tackles with .5 sacks.
In just six games in 2015, Takitaki had 21 total tackles with seven TFLs and 3.5 sacks. He was a terror for opposing offensive lines.
A week after BYU football’s win over the Bearcats, Takitaki was suspended after pleading guilty to misdemeanor theft. Takitaki had been accused of stealing clothing from the women’s soccer and track teams.
Last season he redshirted.
Next: Kalani Sitake Is Changing BYU For The Better
Now he’s back practicing with the Cougars – and he’s already making an impact on the defense. He’s been lining up mainly at STUD (a sort of defensive end/pass rushing linebacker hybrid position).
There’s no reason to think that – if he can remain healthy – he won’t reach double-digit sacks. But, at the same time, Ilaisa Tuiaki’s concern is more team sacks. While Takitaki won’t always get to the quarterback, he’ll be able to free up other players.
Lorenzo Fautea, Kesni Tausinga, Handsome Tanielu, Corbin Kaufusi, Fred Warner, Trajan Pili, Francis Bernard and any other Cougar pass rusher will benefit from Takitaki’s presence on the field.
We’ll see how Takitaki and the BYU football defense looks later this month, but it doesn’t look like Cougar fans will have much to worry about in regards to the junior.
“He hasn’t lost a step,” captain Fred Warner told ESPN. “He’s destroying every tackle that he goes against right now. He’s always in the backfield.”