The departure of longtime Texas football coach Mack Brown presented major programs with an opportunity to strengthen their recruiting classes leading up to National Signing Day on Feb. 5.
Two of Texas’ prized recruits, Sione and Maea Teuhema, reopened their recruitment after Brown’s resignation, causing a flurry of recruiting activity.
LSU took advantage of the situation by bringing in Sione and Maea for official visits. Despite their verbal commitments to Texas and Brown in May 2013, the brothers decided to decommit from Texas after their visit to Baton Rouge.
On Signing Day, the Teuhema brothers signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Tigers.
“We wanted to leave Texas so we decided to make an official visit,” Sione said. “We hung out with [senior right guard Hoko Fanaika] and decided to come to LSU.”
The addition of Maea strengthened the recruiting class of 2015, and Sione gave the Tigers the speed rushing defensive end they were looking for in the class of 2014 after losing out on five-star prospect Lorenzo Carter.
Maea is a five-star recruit and rated the No. 4 offensive lineman in the nation by recruiting service 247sports.
According to Sports BlogNation, he is 6-foot-5-inches tall and weighs a stout 340 pounds, though he has exceptional mobility for someone his size. His combination of size and mobility allows him to move defensive linemen and open big holes for the running game, while functioning as a formidable pass blocker as well.
While Tiger fans will have to wait a year to see Maea in an LSU uniform, Sione can be seen wearing No. 58 this season.
The three-star U.S. Army All-American compiled 96 tackles, including 19 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks as an outside linebacker during his senior year at Keller High School. Despite having experience at defensive end and outside linebacker, Sione exclusively plays as a pass rushing defensive end for the the Tigers.
Maea may seem like the big catch, but Sione is making his own mark in Baton Rouge early in the season for the Tigers.
“[Sione] is a guy that has a motor that doesn’t stop. He gives his all at practice each and every day,” said sophomore cornerback Tre’Davious White. “I feel like he can be a big contributor for us.”
Sione showcased his abilities for the first time as a Tiger against Sam Houston State, using his signature speed rush to beat the left tackle to get into the backfield and record his first career sack.
On the ensuing drive, Sione froze the tackle with a fake to the inside and beat him back to the outside to garner his second sack of the game.
“That’s a big play that he made,” White said. “He will do more of that.”
Sione finished the game with four tackles and two sacks, adding one tackle against UL-Monroe.
With Southeastern Conference play just around the corner and a surplus of talent at defensive end, Sione said he’s not worried about a lack of play time.
“I’m just out here practicing and trying to move up on the depth chart,” Sione said.