Sione Takitaki Has Something To Prove In Cleveland

May 5, 2019, 9:36 PM | Updated: 9:37 pm

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

KSL Sports

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Rookie minicamp for the Cleveland Browns has wrapped up and former BYU linebacker Sione Takitaki is loving every minute of the NFL experience, but knows that he still has something to prove.

Takitaki was selected in the third round by the Browns.

“It’s still surreal,” Takitaki said. “Being here for the first day is definitely hitting me that I have to lace up the boots and show them [Cleveland] why they brought me in. I am still enjoying it,” he stated.

Takitaki was a captain during his senior season at BYU, but now he is a rookie and not the leader of the locker room. He enjoys that feeling though.

“I like this feeling,” he said. “I always wanted to be the little guy again or the guy that has to earn his stripes again. I feel like that is where I thrive,” said Takitaki.

The coaching staff at BYU moved Takitaki from defensive end to linebacker, which he knows it is because they were looking at the future and how he could thrive in the NFL.

“They felt like that me wanting to play in the NFL that they wanted to put me back at linebacker,” he mentioned. “That defensive end spot was great for me too. It helped me out for all of these teams [scouting him] and the Browns definitely took a look at that to show them my versatility,” Takitaki said.

😉 @STakitaki pic.twitter.com/o3T2b8LuXd

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 3, 2019

The staff in Cleveland said that the Wisconsin game really stood out to them on Takitaki and what he could bring to the Browns.

“Smash mouth football,” Takitaki said. “If you play like that, you will definitely get noticed. That game really showed how physical I can play against a physical team.