Texas linebacker Liona Lefau brings the Longhorns closer by sharing his culture

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Like a lot of position groups on this year's Texas Longhorns football team, there's plenty of depth at linebacker. One player in particular who has seized the opportunity to perform is sophomore Liona Lefau.

Lefau leads the team with four tackles for loss in four games this season, including a huge hit on Louisiana-Monroe running back Ozarrio Smith for a safety in a 51-3 win over the Warhawks. He's notched 13 total tackles and his eight solo tackles are fourth-best on the team.

After mainly playing special teams last season, Lefau is breaking out in a big way, but it's not a surprise to anybody. Just about everyone in the program knew Lefau could play at a high level, he just needed the chance.

"We've always felt really highly of Lefau," Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said. "The way the depth chart was as a true freshman, you had Jaylan Ford, Anthony (Hill Jr.), and then Liona. He was an impactful player for us on special teams. He's come back this spring and has a great relationship with Coach (Johnny) Nansen and Coach Nansen's approach has resonated with him."

With Ford now in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, Lefau is getting his shot. He's taking advantage of it by learning from everyone else around him.

"I learned a lot from J-Ford, but also players like (David) Gbenda, Mo (Blackwell Jr.) and (Anthony) Hill," he said. "We came together but I was able to learn from Hill, too. I can learn from anyone, even from the walk-ons. I'm just thankful for my teammates that helped me."

The Longhorn linebackers are a tight-knit group, and Lefau has a lot to do with that. He invited the linebackers and other players to Hawaii in May to help put on a youth football camp at his alma mater Kahuku High School. Blackwell, Hill, Gbenda, Colton Vasek, Juan Davis and Vernon Broughton went to help the next generation enjoy football but they also found out what made Lefau who he is — the Hawaiian culture and spirit.

"I got to see where he came from and the community he had surrounding him," Gbenda said. "To see the amount of love and care and selflessness they had for each other, and to see how he was brought up, it allowed me to understand him personally. It reinforced what I already knew about it, he's a great person from humble beginnings. He has a great village around him that raised him, and he's always giving back to his village."

Gbenda said Lefau shows the team the Hawaiian culture through just about everything he does.

"It's how he treats other people," Gbenda said. "Family and respect are really big things to him. He respects everyone, and when he was at home, he did the same things and he was the same person."

Hill said seeing where Lefau grew up on the North Shore of Oahu brought the players closer.

"Learning his culture and what it's all about, it felt pretty good," he said. "We got to see his origin and listen to his family tell stories, it was really nice."

Hill and Lefau spend a lot of time together, Hill said. They developed a friendship because they're both "goofy people."

"We came in at the same time and I've been real close with him since Day 1," Hill said. "The fact we're both out there making plays is awesome. I love seeing him make plays."