Tausili Akana, EDGE
The second of the two Longhorns outside backers/edge rushers to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 9 is redshirt freshman Tausili Akana (per On3's Hayes Fawcett). The second-year edge rusher/outside linebacker Akana played eight games over the past two seasons for the Longhorns.
This season, Akana saw action in seven games for the Longhorns, mostly with the special teams unit with the kickoff coverage team. Akana took 37 snaps with the special teams kickoff coverage unit over seven games this fall, registering two solo tackles.
On defense, Akana took four defensive snaps over two games for the Longhorns this fall. He registered one tackle assist in the Week 3 win over UTSA at DKR.
During his true freshman campaign in 2023, Akana played one game, taking two defensive snaps for the Longhorns in a win over Rice in Week 1 at home.
The 6-foot-4 and 220-pound linebacker/edge rusher from Kahuku, HI, signed with the Longhorns in the 2023 recruiting class that ranked top three in the nation for that cycle in the 247Sports Composite. He committed to the Longhorns over the Utah Utes, Oklahoma Sooners, Texas A&M Aggies, Tennessee Volunteers, LSU Tigers, and Louisville Cardinals.
Akana is from Kahuku, HI, but he attended Skyridge High School in Lehi, UT, before signing with the Longhorns a couple of years ago.
He ranked as the No. 123 recruit nationally in the 2023 class in the 247Sports Composite, No. 10 linebacker, and No. 2 from Utah.
Akana has three years of eligibility remaining.