Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki talks about what it's going to take to stop Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense on Sunday. “I was like, ‘woah, that is so weird because he doesn’t seem like that type of person.’”. The linebacker turns 25 years old in just a few weeks, and the pressure will be on for production in the second year of his rookie contract. There are two key areas of concern for Takitaki moving forward. I could feel the type of person he was, deep down, after talking to him for an hour or so that night.”. “I said, ‘OK, good for you, but I am not going to go on a date with you just yet.’”. Jan 23, 2019 Takitaki to play in Reese's Senior Bowl. He will be joining a team that has made some big moves this offseason! Goodson, and rookie Jacob Phillips. “Oh, just some football player,” she said. Alyssa was with her entire family at the time and they asked who it was. He only gave up two catches on three targets for 14 yards in 2019, but he also only saw the field for 31 coverage snaps. Forbes can return to the active roster for the Week 10 matchup with the Buffalo Bills, but the Browns' sixth-round offensive lineman has already made his way back onto the practice field. The other is hard-hitting linebacker, Sione Takitaki. “I am the type of person where I have my standards, and I don’t break those for anybody,” Alyssa Penney said. Provo • At first, the slender and outgoing freshman BYU swimmer from a small town near Sacramento wanted nothing to do with the big, burly and annoyingly persistent freshman football player who wouldn’t stop trying to flirt with her at a bonfire in the mountains above campus. Dec 21, 2018 BYU vs. WMU Postgame Notes. J.T. New defensive coordinator Joe Woods has Takitaki working at WILL this year in an effort to get him on the field more often as the base defense for the league runs two linebackers more than any other look. What a rise. BYU continues climbing AP Top 25 poll, landing at No. “It was rough. TV • ESPN. I was like, ‘what are you calling are for?’ And he was like, ‘I really like you and I really miss you.’”. But when he was given opportunities, his feet where often ahead of his mind. At BYU Takitaki switched from an EDGE linebacker role to an off-ball role late in his career. Looking at how second-year linebacker Sione Takitaki can be the key cog in the linebacker room for the Browns 2020 defense. Goodson and pick No. I was in the dumps,” he said. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As the Browns front office has fought to strengthen several weak position groups from 2019, there is a noticeable hole on the defensive side of the ball. May have some situational upside in man coverage. Everyone loved him.”. A versatile prospect with a well-rounded skill set, Takitaki r… He didn't have many open-field chances like these throughout 2019, but when he did it was not an encouraging watch. He has production, he has athleticism. What followed, however, was a remarkable turnaround — the latest chapter coming on Monday, when Takitaki was named a team captain for the 2018 season. Sione Takitaki invited to 2019 NFL Combine. Takitaki could not find the field for much of last season as he battled through a nagging injury. But after allowing players to vote on whether he should be given a second chance, Mendenhall reinstated the youngster whose father, Vaimaua, died of cancer when he was in the eighth grade. pic.twitter.com/m7gCOWVsuv, — Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 27, 2019, New Browns LB Sione Takitaki had the 14th-highest run-defense grade in the class. Her parents and siblings read all the “bad things in the papers” and wondered what was going on as well, she said. 10 pick is the norm of late. Dec 21, 2018 BYU tops Western Michigan 49-18 in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. One of the major questions coming into the 2020 season was who would step up at linebacker for the Cleveland Browns. Hassell was promoted from the practice squad after Morgan Burnett was placed on injured reserve. Takitaki also has nice lateral range. The college LB played Burnett's old role of heavy safety capably. After the departure of veterans Christian Kirksey and Joe Schobert, the only player with substantial NFL experience is second-year player Mack Wilson. However, the linebacker room has been largely ignored by Andrew Berry and company heading into 2020. 12, BYU ties for 11th place in the Amway Top 25 football poll, Jake Bentley’s captaincy doesn’t make him Utah’s starting QB, but it signifies the respect of his teammates, Robert Kirby: Vote — for all the good it will do, Tribune Editorial: Utah constitutional amendments — Five decent ideas and two really bad ones. Look, Takitaki is basically a rookie once again. I could go on and on about her. Mack Wilson: "We have guys in our linebacker room who really have not made a name for themselves yet. 97 LSU's Jacob Phillips. The linebacker turns 25 years old in just a few weeks, and the pressure will be on for production in the second year of his rookie contract. Jan 17, 2019 Takitaki to play in East-West Shrine Game on Saturday. Takitaki was suspended for the remainder of the year for violating team rules. Latest on Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN Sione Takitaki . Just little things like that that most guys don’t do any more. Wilson played 942 snaps and flashed occasionally but struggled for the large part of his rookie year. The difference in age, though, between the two will be staggering as Phillips just turned 21 and Takitaki playing the season at 25. 10 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, they will find lots of precedents. She is going straight to heaven.”, Alyssa said when she first met Takitaki, despite his outward appearances, “I could tell that he had a good heart. Takitaki only played 105 total defensive snaps in 2019, most which were played in the back half of the season. Dec 21, 2018 BYU vs. WMU Postgame Notes. “She’s a wonderful wife, an absolute angel,” Takitaki said last week as preseason camp wrapped up and the senior linebacker and his teammates turned their attention to Saturday’s opener at Arizona. “That’s kind of what I told him. He has production, he has athleticism. When Alyssa and Takitaki met that fall of 2014, Takitaki had already had one brush with trouble. The position of WILL is new to him from an experience standpoint. Just a few months ago he was projected as a 6th-7th round pick, now he goes at pick No. Many expect Phillips to compete for starting snaps, but so far Takitaki appears to be on the field for most of the first-team reps. With no preseason though, anything can still happen. If your favorite team is looking for a steal of a linebacker in the 2019 NFL draft, BYU’s Sione Takitaki might just be your man. Hassell made his NFL debut at safety for the Cleveland Browns in the Week 13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. While the fans hope he is right, there is a reason for questioning the talent on the roster. Takitaki said she turned his life around. He was slow to react to defenders crossing his face and got caught staring into the backfield too often. Not quick to recognize or anticipate routes to his zone. There is no doubt the group is using the doubters as motivation. College Career . What a rise. When Damarious Randall was a surprise scratch by coach's decision against the Steelers, Hassell got his chance. — Pete Smith (@_PeteSmith_) April 27, 2019, In the 3rd round, 80th overall pick, Sione Takitaki gets selected by the Cleveland Browns! CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. (Photo: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports), The Browns started hunting for bargain players at the position in both free-agency, and the draft and landed on B.J. When Takitaki is playing at his best, he is reading quickly and attacking downhill. All rights reserved. Still, she did her best to avoid him or “string him along,” especially after Takitaki made headlines for all the wrong reasons again in 2014 when, after a standout game against Middle Tennessee State, he failed to show up for a subsequent practice and was suspended for the next game against Nevada. Her family was, too. Sione Takitaki took a majority of the first-team reps for the Cleveland Browns at linebacker. His first defensive snap didn't come until Week 10, and from there, former defensive coordinator. ", » https://t.co/QYpDUqeSzQ pic.twitter.com/OXWUtS6tC9, — Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 17, 2020. I have one more year, and I am so happy and blessed for all the support I’ve gotten along the way.”. 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Based on the outcomes, the Browns might want to stay put. Trading back from the No. Please check your email for a confirmation. This is a role the Browns will likely have Takitaki employ as his effort and downhill athleticism are tough for running backs to handle in pass protection. © 2005-2020 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Jan 17, 2019 Takitaki to play in East-West Shrine Game on Saturday. As an NFL linebacker not all tackling situations happen inside the tackle box and he will need to become efficient in space against high-caliber athletes. Last week, Takitaki credited his mother, his in-laws, Mendenhall, current BYU coach Kalani Sitake, BYU President Kevin Worthen and BYU Advancement Vice President Matthew Richardson for sticking with him and “lending a hand” to his transformation. @STakitaki, — Cougs in the Pros (@BYUpros) April 27, 2019, Sign up for the Browns Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. And if you don’t want to do that, then it’s not going to happen.”, Takitaki’s version: “I wasn’t really her type of guy. I was low. He played a majority of his snaps in two games, Pittsburgh and Baltimore, but he saw sporadic action enough to show us what he is handling well at the current level and what he has to work on to become a consistent contributor for the Browns 2020 defense. Teams have traded back from the ten spot in three straight drafts. She says he turned his own life around, with her timely nudging. Takitaki had a slower start to his college career. There are pieces to be excited about with the future of his game (which we will eventually get to here at The OBR). #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/tciOnwWImk, — Pro Football Focus (@PFF) April 27, 2019. Had a great #BYU career. “He was really, really respectful around my family,” she said. Too rough around the edges for her liking. Too many tattoos. Tall in his pedal which elongates his pivot and hinge ability. The returning players at the position from 2019 are both rookies now headed into their second year in Mack Wilson, who started a majority of the season at WILL for an injured Kirksey, and BYU-product Sione Takitaki who saw limited time in his first NFL season. — Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) April 27, 2019. 10 picks and trade outcomes, plus some notable older moves that also involved the 10th pick. Latest on Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki including biography, career, awards and more on ESPN