Report: LSU Football Sophomore Defensive Tackle Siaki Ika Entering NCAA Transfer Portal
Sophomore defensive tackle Siaki 'Apu' Ika is entering the NCAA transfer portal, according to a report from 247Sports. Ika appeared in all four games the Tigers have played this season but mainly in a rotational role.
It appeared the future for the 6-foot-4, 340-pound defensive tackle was bright after appearing in 13 games as a freshman in 2019, helping LSU in its quest for a national championship. Coach Ed Orgeron spoke glowingly about Ika over the offseason and thought he could be the next great nose tackle in the LSU program.
Ika was expected to step into a starting role in 2020 after showing great signs of promise, particularly after Tyler Shelvin announced his decision to opt out of the 2020 season. But in LSU's move to the 4-3, the interior defensive line became crowded.
Seniors Glen Logan and Neil Farrell as well as sophomore Joseph Evans have all handled the majority of the reps and Ika ultimately saw his playing time diminish. Ika recorded five tackles and a sack in his four appearances for LSU this season and 22 tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss in his career.
According to the report from 247Sports, Ika "wants to go wherever he fits best."
The Tigers have seen their fair share of movement in personnel on the defensive line this offseason. Farrell became the first to opt out for COVID-19 related reasons before ultimately electing to return to the team right before the season started. LSU also lost veteran defensive ends TK McLendon and Justin Thomas before the season as well.
LSU will now be moving forward with a defensive line that remains highly productive. The Tigers lead the SEC in sacks with 14 and have been extremely consistent in forcing turnovers and putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Orgeron says that all has to do with the attacking style the defense wants to play with on every snap.
"Very pleased. It's the 4-3, man. You're not playing four techniques. You got ends rushing wide. We have more athletic people on the field. It's LSU football. It's what I grew up watching," Orgeron said Monday. "We did that in Miami, we did that at USC. It was time to go back to it. I'm happy all those categories being plus six, leading the SEC all that stuff. But we still 2-2.
"We got to play better defense. There's no excuse for it. We got to get some stuff fixed on defense to get where we want to go."
