Tennessee isn’t done recruiting for the 2023 class just yet.
The Volunteers extended a scholarship offer to four-star Liona Lefau Thursday.
The 6’1, 210-pound linebacker from Hawaii verbally announced his commitment to Texas via Twitter on June 25, reportedly after the linebacker coach for the Longhorns made several trips to Hawaii in hopes to persuade Lefau to continue his career in Austin. On top of this, the weakness of the Pac-12 led Lefau to look elsewhere, especially to a future SEC program.
Lefau plays with a high motor for Kahuku High School. He also has great strength and closes on the ball well.
Lefau finished the 2021 season with three interceptions and 28.5 tackles at linebacker, while also finishing with 13 receptions for 225 yards and six touchdowns at the tight end position. Lefau helped lead Kahuku to the Hawaii State Title in 2021.
The timing of Tennessee’s scholarship offer to Lefau is interesting considering that the linebacker recently stated that he is firmly committed to Texas.
The Longhorns currently hold the No. 3 recruiting class of 2023, which includes one of the biggest names in college football: Archie Manning. However, with the loss to Alabama and the upset at the hands of Texas Tech, the beginning of the 2022 season hasn’t played out well for the Longhorns.
Could Tennessee’s recent success, along with the failures in Austin, be enough to sway Lefau to flip to the real UT? Only time will tell.
