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Arizona DT Tiaoalii Savea commits to Texas

Joe Cookby: Joe Cook01/23/24josephcook89
Tiaoalii Savea
Tiaoalii Savea (Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports)

The transfer portal has been kind to Texas in recent weeks, and it continued to be a boost to the Longhorns’ 2024 efforts at a position of dire need. Arizona defensive tackle Tiaoalii Savea committed to Texas following a weekend official visit.

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Savea, a member of the class of 2021, started his career at UCLA when current Texas linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen was on Chip Kelly’s staff as defensive line coach. When Nansen took the Arizona defensive coordinator position on Jedd Fisch’s staff, Savea followed him to Tucson.

Following two seasons with the Wildcats, Savea is following Nansen once more for his final season of college football.

In one season at UCLA, Savea logged seven tackles in 10 games and had multiple tackles in his final three games with the Bruins.

At Arizona, Savea had 36 career tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. During the the 2022 season he appeared in seven games and made 14 tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss. He also blocked a field goal versus his former team in UCLA, had one pass defended, and one fumble recovery.

During the 2023 campaign that saw Arizona win 10 games, Savea had 22 tackles with 6.0 for loss and 1.5 sacks. Against Oklahoma in the Valero Alamo Bowl, Savea had three tackles including 0.5 for loss.

The addition of Savea fills a need for the Longhorns at the defensive tackle position. With Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat off to the NFL, plus light numbers at the position over the past two recruiting cycles, playing time alongside Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton, and others was available.

Savea has one year of eligibility left.

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As a recruit in 2021, was ranked as the No. 263 overall prospect, the No. 27 defensive tackle, and the No. 2 player in Nevada.

He joins Amari Niblack, Kendrick Blackshire, Isaiah Bond, Silas Bolden, Andrew Mukuba, Trey Moore, and Matthew Golden as transfers welcomed by the Longhorns in the 2024 cycle.

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