Texas football took a surprise hit Monday with linebacker Liona Lefau reportedly set to join the transfer portal when it opens Jan. 2.
Lefau has started 23 consecutive games while appearing in all 42 Longhorns games since the start of the 2023 season.
The news was first reported by 247Sports.
A 6-foot-1, 227-pound junior from Hawaii, Lefau seemed on the verge of serving as a defensive leader next season with the departure of fellow linebackers Anthony Hill Jr. and Trey Moore to the 2026 NFL draft. Considering his experience and defensive acumen, Lefau also seemed like a leading defensive candidate to wear the one helmet with a radio in order to communicate with the coaching staff.
Suddenly, Texas’ 2026 linebackers corps looks long of youth and short of experience. Sophomore Ty’Anthony Smith will be the only linebacker with multiple tackles returning next season, which means Texas could be reliant on unproven youngsters such as current freshmen Bo Barnes and Jonathan Cunningham as well as incoming freshman Tyler Atkinson, a 247Sports composite five-star signee from Georgia.
This past season, Lefau ranked fourth on the team with 68 tackles and added three pass breakups, one sack and one fumble recovery. He’s not expected to play in the Longhorns’ game Dec. 31 against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
With the addition of Lefau, Texas now has 10 players who plan on entering the portal, including defensive back Derek Williams Jr., defensive back Wardell Mack, offensive lineman Connor Stroh, running back CJ Baxter, receiver Aaron Butler, running back Jerrick Gibson, defensive back Santana Wilson, quarterback Trey Owens and kicker Will Stone.