Sione Takitaki

Sione Takitaki (born June 8, 1995) is an American football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at BYU and was drafted by the Browns in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft.[1]

Sione Takitaki
Takitaki in 2019
No. 44 – Cleveland Browns
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1995-06-08) June 8, 1995
Fontana, California
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:238 lb (108 kg)
Career information
High school:Heritage (Romoland, California)
College:BYU
NFL Draft:2019 / Round: 3 / Pick: 80
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2020
Total tackles:88
Sack:1.0
Pass deflections:1
Interceptions:1
Defensive touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

College career

Takitaki played college football at BYU from 2014 to 2018. In four seasons with the team, he totaled 237 tackles, including 32.5 tackles for a loss, with 14.5 sacks. As a senior, he served as a team captain and led the Cougars with 118 tackles.[2]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand size40-yard dash20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 1 1⁄8 in
(1.86 m)		 238 lb
(108 kg)		 32 in
(0.81 m)		 9 5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		4.63 s4.28 s7.21 s37.0 in
(0.94 m)		10 ft 5 in
(3.18 m)		24 reps
All values from NFL Combine[3]

Takitaki was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round with the 80th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.[4]

In Week 11 of the 2020 season against the Philadelphia Eagles, Takitaki intercepted a pass thrown by Carson Wentz and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown during the 22–17 win. This was Takitaki's first career interception and touchdown.[5] Takitaki was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Browns on November 25, 2020,[6] and activated on December 4.[7] In Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, Takitaki recorded his first career sack on Lamar Jackson during the 47–42 loss.[8]

Takitaki produced the biggest play of his career that season in the AFC Wildcard game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, intercepting a Ben Roethlisberger pass with 3:16 left in the fourth quarter to seal a 48–37 victory.[9]

Personal life

Takitaki, of Tongan descent, was born to father Vaimaua and mother Fissipeau, the youngest of a family of seven children with four sisters and two brothers.[10] [11]

His father died when he was 14.[12] He was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, with his faith being one of the reasons he chose to attend BYU.[13]

References
  1. Drew, Jay (April 25, 2019). "BYU linebacker Sione Takitaki eager to continue his 'remarkable' turnaround story as NFL draft approaches". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  2. "NFL Draft Notes: Third-round pick Sione Takitaki went from suspensions and dismissals at BYU to captain, credits marrying wonderful wife". Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  3. "Sione Takitaki Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  4. Gribble, Andrew (April 26, 2019). "Cleveland Browns select BYU LB Sione Takitaki with No. 80 pick in 2019 NFL Draft". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  5. "Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns – November 22nd, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  6. "Browns place LB Sione Takitaki on reserve/COVID-19 list". ClevelandBrowns.com. November 25, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  7. "Browns activate DE Joe Jackson and LB Sione Takitaki". ClevelandBrowns.com. December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  8. "Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns - December 14th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  9. "Browns Linebacker Sione Takitaki Seals Wild Card Win Over Steelers With Interception". Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  10. "Sione Takitaki: Athlete Profile". BYU Cougars. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  11. Zenger, Sydney (October 8, 2018). "Family, faith and football led Takitaki to BYU". BYU Cougars. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  12. "BYU LB Sione Takitaki's 1st press conference as a Cleveland Brown". ClevelandBrowns.com. April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  13. Hicks, Zachary (April 6, 2019). "Meet Sione Takitaki, BYU's gem of an LB prospect". Draft Wire. USA Today. Retrieved April 30, 2019.


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