Liona Lefau

Position:
Linebacker
Height:
6-1
Weight:
230
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Kahuka, Hawai'i
High School:
Kahuku
Prev School:
Texas

AS A TRANSFER

Rated as a four-star transfer prospect by 247 Sports.
Listed as the No. 126 player in the transfer portal and the No. 7 Linebacker as of January 16, 2026.
Enters Colorado as an undergraduate transfer with two years to play one.

AT TEXAS (2023-25)

Played in 42 career games across three seasons at Texas, making 22 starts.
Ended his time with 139 total tackles, 68 unassisted tackles, eight tackles for loss, six pass breakups, three sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
As a junior he started in all 12 regular season games.
Finished with 69 total tackles, 27 unassisted tackles, three tackles for loss, three pass breakups, one sack, and one fumble recovery during the 2025 season.
In the regular season finale against Texas A&M he posted a career high 11 total tackles.
Against Arkansas he picked up a fumble and returned it 53 yards for his first career touchdown.
In 2024 he appeared in all 16 games with 10 starts during his second season on the Forty Acres.
He was credited with at least one tackle in every game of his sophomore campaign.
Tallied 63 total tackles, 38 unassisted tackles, five tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, and one safety.
Registered his first career interception on the road agaisnt Vanderbilt.
Had a season-high eight tackles in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals against Arizona State.
Appeared in all 14 games as a true freshman.
Played primarily on special teams.
A member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll (spring 2023).

HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS

A four-star prospect by most of the recruiting services.
ESPN listed him as the No.30 linebacker and the No. 2 player from Hawaii.
On3 rates him at an 88, the No. 68 linebacker, and the No. 2 player from Hawaii.
247 Sports rates him at an 90 and lists him as the No. 32 linebacker, and the No. 2 player from Hawaii.
247 Composite: No. 405 player nationally, No. 32 linebacker, No. 2 player from Hawaii.
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 426 player nationally, No. 40 linebacker in the class, No. 2 player from Hawaii.

AT KAHUKU HIGH SCHOOL

Played three seasons of varsity football with his final two coming at Kahuku in Hawaii under head coach Sterling Carvalho.
An all-state defensive player of the year and two-time member of a state championship team.
He was selected to participate in the 2023 Polynesian Bowl.
Named the 2022 MaxPreps Hawaii Player of the Year.
Won the 2022 Marcus Mariota Award.
Posted 50 tackles as a senior as part of a defense that allowed just 10.0 points per game, including three shutouts and seven games of seven points or fewer.
Collected nine tackles in a playoff semifinals win over Campbell.
Helped Kahuku to a 12-2 overall record, including a 7-0 league mark and title, and a Division I Open State Championship in 2022.
Led the Kahuku defense to a shutout over Punahou in the state title game.
Kahuku's only losses came to national powers St. John Bosco of California, and St. Frances Academy of Maryland.
Chosen Hawaii All-State Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-State First Team Defense by the Honolulu Star-Adviser.
Selected first-team OIA.
Recorded three interceptions on defense along with 13 receptions for 225 yards and six touchdowns as a junior. Part of a defense that allowed just 9.8 points per game, including six games of seven points or fewer and two shutouts.
Helped Kahuku to a 10-0 overall record, including a 7-0 league mark and title, and a Division I Open State Championship in 2021.
Collected a blocked punt return for a 19-yard touchdown, an interception and five tackles on defense, while catching two passes for 36 yards on offense against St. Louis in the title game.
Played at Sammamish High School in Bellevue, Wash., as a sophomore after high school football was canceled in Hawaii due to the pandemic.
Caught 10 passes for 296 yards (29.6 ypc) and two touchdowns with a long of 89 yards during his season at Sammamish in 2020.
Played in California as a freshman.
Also participated in track and field in the 100m and 4x100m relay.