Bobby Burton Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 According to a source in Tucson, Texas is expected to host Tiaoalli Savea, a defensive tackle from Arizona, on a visit this weekend, possibly as soon as today. Savea, who is 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, entered the transfer portal officially yesterday. From Las Vegas' Desert Pines High School, Savea originally signed with UCLA out of high school before transferring to Arizona. He logged 22 tackles and six tackles for loss in 2023 for an Arizona defense coordinated by current Texas linebackers coach Johnny Nansen. Texas already has seven commitments from the NCAA transfer portal - three receivers, one tight end, one pass rusher, one linebacker and a defensive back. But the Horns are sorely looking for more interior defensive line prospects to add to the rotation. Savea appears to fit that bill. Washington, where former Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch moved this off-season, is also expected to be under consideration. View full news 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Burton Posted January 20 Author Share Posted January 20 Savea confirmed the information via Twitter moments ago. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LonghornChris Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 Makes perfect sense … Nassen can prob give the kid assurance that the new DL coach will be solid 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agentmule Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 possible gateway to his massive dl teammate Bill Norton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Burton Posted January 20 Author Share Posted January 20 16 minutes ago, agentmule said: possible gateway to his massive dl teammate Bill Norton I don't know if he's going to be a target. Yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jbro52 Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 I watched some of his tape some similarities to Trill Carter but maybe more pass rush ability than Carter 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoachBobbyFinstock Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 Very cool! Glad y’all have a site. I think he’s at the least a replacement for Carter. We’d be back on schedule where we were after the season added. Be patient and see what happens in the Spring after his if we sign him. Also, he’s a little different here because Nanson has the goods on this one. No unknowns and if he couldn’t help, Texas would not have brought him in. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longhorn Wealth Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 I think it is a good sign that he played under Nansen at AZ and we are bringing him in, as they would not waste time on him unless Nansen thought he was a player worth having and had at least as much to offer as we lost in Trill Carter. Like his size. Question I have is what year is he? Was he just one year at UCLA and/or did he redshirt while he was there? Curious if has he has 3 years to play two or just two years left or what? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Burton Posted January 20 Author Share Posted January 20 1 hour ago, CoachBobbyFinstock said: Very cool! Glad y’all have a site. I think he’s at the least a replacement for Carter. We’d be back on schedule where we were after the season added. Be patient and see what happens in the Spring after his if we sign him. Also, he’s a little different here because Nanson has the goods on this one. No unknowns and if he couldn’t help, Texas would not have brought him in. Agree with the idea of having background info on him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Burton Posted January 20 Author Share Posted January 20 20 minutes ago, Longhorn Wealth said: I think it is a good sign that he played under Nansen at AZ and we are bringing him in, as they would not waste time on him unless Nansen thought he was a player worth having and had at least as much to offer as we lost in Trill Carter. Like his size. Question I have is what year is he? Was he just one year at UCLA and/or did he redshirt while he was there? Curious if has he has 3 years to play two or just two years left or what? With the Covid-year stuff, no one really knows anymore how long people have exactly anymore. At least one, probably two, and maybe three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longhorn Wealth Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 12 minutes ago, Bobby Burton said: With the Covid-year stuff, no one really knows anymore how long people have exactly anymore. At least one, probably two, and maybe three. Just checked Rivals database: he signed 1/3/21 to UCLA. https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/tiaoalii-savea-238724?view=pv Found this on the AZ football site for him: Played in all 12 games in 2023 season. 2022: Appeared in seven games during his first season with the Wildcats after transferring from UCLA… Made 14 total tackles (8 solo, 6 assist), including 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick… The blocked field goal attempt helped Arizona upset No. 9 UCLA 34-28 at The Rose Bowl on 11/12… Made season-high three tackles in the game at UCLA. Before Arizona: Logged one season at UCLA in 2021…Saw time in 10 games along the defensive line…Finished the year with seven tackles after logging multiple stops in each of his last three appearances…Prepped at Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas…Helped lead team to 11-1 record and the NIAA Class 4A state championship game in 2019…First team Nevada All-State in 2019…Selected to compete in 2021 Under Armour All-America Game…Earned spot in the 2021 Polynesian Bowl...Four-star recruit after finishing prep career according to ESPN and Rivals. So, he has actually played in 3 college football seasons in an amount that surpassed redshirt qualifications each year. So, technically at the max, he has 3 years left to play 2 years of college football (Redshirt, Senior, Covid Senior). Likely is a 2 year guy unless he 1) just explodes next year and goes off into the NFL OR 2) he just graduates next year and decides he has had enough and moves on with his regular life. Can't see him transferring to redshirt, but he could pull a Trill Carter and leave us after just one year if he has little to no impact in year one and is passed over by younger/better players. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Realist Horn Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 Appears to be more of a depth guy, not a shoe in starter; agree? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gus fleener Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 6 minutes ago, Longhorn Wealth said: Just checked Rivals database: he signed 1/3/21 to UCLA. https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/tiaoalii-savea-238724?view=pv Found this on the AZ football site for him: Played in all 12 games in 2023 season. 2022: Appeared in seven games during his first season with the Wildcats after transferring from UCLA… Made 14 total tackles (8 solo, 6 assist), including 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick… The blocked field goal attempt helped Arizona upset No. 9 UCLA 34-28 at The Rose Bowl on 11/12… Made season-high three tackles in the game at UCLA. Before Arizona: Logged one season at UCLA in 2021…Saw time in 10 games along the defensive line…Finished the year with seven tackles after logging multiple stops in each of his last three appearances…Prepped at Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas…Helped lead team to 11-1 record and the NIAA Class 4A state championship game in 2019…First team Nevada All-State in 2019…Selected to compete in 2021 Under Armour All-America Game…Earned spot in the 2021 Polynesian Bowl...Four-star recruit after finishing prep career according to ESPN and Rivals. So, he has actually played in 3 college football seasons in an amount that surpassed redshirt qualifications each year. So, technically at the max, he has 3 years left to play 2 years of college football (Redshirt, Senior, Covid Senior). Likely is a 2 year guy unless he 1) just explodes next year and goes off into the NFL OR 2) he just graduates next year and decides he has had enough and moves on with his regular life. Can't see him transferring to redshirt, but he could pull a Trill Carter and leave us after just one year if he has little to no impact in year one and is passed over by younger/better players. I'll admit to being confused about the Covid year. Even after I looked it up, I'm not completely clear on this. But, it appears to me that if you enrolled in college in the fall of' 21, you don't qualify for the COVID-19 Waiver. "The COVID-19 Automatic Waiver criteria is based solely on the student's pre-seventh semester academic record and applies to all expected Spring/Summer 2020 graduates who initially enroll full time in 2020-21." Would this mean he only has one year left? I think he's rotational at best. We still need to find the Murphy / Sweat type guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longhorn Wealth Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 6 minutes ago, gus fleener said: I'll admit to being confused about the Covid year. Even after I looked it up, I'm not completely clear on this. But, it appears to me that if you enrolled in college in the fall of' 21, you don't qualify for the COVID-19 Waiver. "The COVID-19 Automatic Waiver criteria is based solely on the student's pre-seventh semester academic record and applies to all expected Spring/Summer 2020 graduates who initially enroll full time in 2020-21." Would this mean he only has one year left? I think he's rotational at best. We still need to find the Murphy / Sweat type guys. Thanks for the clarification. Sounds like you are correct, as he would have been a Fall 2021 Freshman enrollee., so his first college year would be the 2021-2022 year. Assuming that is how it applies to him, he really only has one year of playing eligibility left, so unless he redshirts in the 2024 season (HIGHLY UNLIKELY), he will be a "one and done" at UT. Let's hope his one season is at least as impactful as Trill Carter's was, but hopefully much more so. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Burton Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 1 hour ago, Realist Horn said: Appears to be more of a depth guy, not a shoe in starter; agree? Definite rotation guy out of the gate and let the chips fall where they may. Played a lot for a defense that won 10 games this year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K. Baughman Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 What kind of timeline is Tiaoalii on? Is he looking to make a quick decision if he is offered? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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