Siaki

Ika

Ika (6'4/340) isn’t receiving a ton of buzz heading into the fall, but that’s something that is steadily changing and should continue to change in a big way once the action gets underway this fall. Ika was one of the 85 players across college football to make the Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list. The honors are awarded annually to the best defensive player in college football. Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. is the latest recipient and is on the watch list once again with a chance for a repeat.

Ika (6'4/340) looks to continue making an impression after catching some attention for his contributions in LSU’s 2019 national championship season. He’s grading out well -- according to Pro Football Focus, Ike’s 85.7 pass rush grade from last season was the best by a Big 12 defensive tackle since 2016. He finished out the 2021 season with several personal bests, registering 24 total tackles (17 solo), four sacks and one pass defended.

Ika (6'4/340) was a 13-game contributor to LSU’s 2019 title team. He transferred to Baylor at the conclusion of the 2020 season, and broke out as a star in 2021. In a recent mock draft, Miller slotted Ika to the Chargers at No. 29 overall. “Ika would boost the interior immediately,” Miller wrote. “The 6-foot-4, 350-pound tackle is an anchor in the middle, and he also has enough quickness to make an impact as a pass-rusher (he had four sacks in 2021).”

Adding Ika (6'4/340) is a big development for Baylor HC Dave Aranda, and not just because of his size. The sophomore defensive tackle, who appeared in 13 games for LSU during the team’s national title run in 2019, is a capable defensive tackle who can help keep the linebackers behind him “clean” so they can run and make plays. Aranda may not be the defensive coordinator at Baylor, but the Bears are running a 3-4 scheme. This is a good pairing of player and scheme as Baylor looks to rebound from a disappointing 2020 campaign.

Ika (6'4"/340) played in 13 games last season as a true freshman while serving in a backup capacity for the 2019 national champions. The mammoth nose tackle recorded 18 tackles, six solo, last year. This year he played in two games posting five tackles, two solo, with one sack. 2019 DC Dave Aranda lined up in a 3-4 defensive front, whereas new DC Bo Pelini prefers to utilize a 4-3. Ika cited the desire to play somewhere with a defense scheme that is more tailored to his skill set as a reason for his departure.

Ika is a former four-star recruit who “despite his enormous size, he showed exceptional feet, athleticism and agility,” according to Farrell. Ika was thought to potentially need a year of “conditioning” but after showing well during the spring he’s expected to be a big part of the Tigers defense in 2019.

Ika has been getting rave reviews since enrolling early on campus, and it showed during the scrimmage. He picked up three tackles for loss with two sacks, but the stats don’t tell the whole story. Ika was consistently in the backfield according to ESPN’s Sam Khan Jr., and when you get that kind of push up the middle from a 347-pound defender, good things happen. Don’t be surprised if Ika is among the best freshman in the SEC next year, if not the country.

“I’ve dreaded this moment for so long and asked myself thousands of times if this is the right decision,” Ika wrote. “But with nothing but love and respect for BYU football and its coaching staff, my family and I have decided that being in the position I’m in right now in the the recruiting process...to open my recruitment.” Ika (6'3/360) had been committed to the Cougars since 2016, but has recently seen offers from schools like Alabama, Oregon, Washington and USC. He’s rated the top prospect in Utah, and the 12th best defensive tackle in the class by 247 Sports.

Ika (6'3/347), a former BYU commit, has already used one of his five official visits as USC hosted him in late June. According to Blair Angulo of 247Sports.com, indications have the Iron Bowl on Nov. 24 “tentatively circled” on the defensive tackle’s calendar. That could be a good sign for Alabama if Ika does indeed visit then, as he plans to sign during the early December window, with the defending champs viewed as a favorite to land his pledge. Per the report Ika, who’s ranked the 160th-best prospect in the 2019 class by 247Sports, may visit LSU officially in mid-October and Ohio State in early November.

Ika (6'3/247) earlier visited the Tigers in June. He’s venturing far afield for this one, as the Salt Lake City native clearly has an open mind to the possibility of attending college beyond the Pac-12 region (though Oregon does appear to be piquing his interest). Alabama and Ohio State are two other programs in the hunt, here. He’ll eventually be signing with his program-to-be in the early December window. We like Alabama in this race. Ika slides into the fray on the 247Sports composite board at No. 159 overall in the 2019 class.