BREAKING: Baylor adds former four-star DT Siaki Ika as transfer

Baylor added a key piece to the defensive line on Monday when former LSU defensive tackle Siaki “Apu” Ika made his decision to play the remainder of his collegiate career in Waco under head coach Dave Aranda, his defensive coordinator during his freshman season with the Tigers in 2019.

The 6-foot-3, 350-pound defender played in four games in the 2020 season before opting out of the season and making the decision to leave LSU. He totaled five tackles with a sack in those four games and 22 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks in 13 games played at LSU. 

If the NCAA approves immediate eligibility for all transfers, Ika will be eligible to play for Baylor in 2021 with three years of eligibilty remaining. He will enroll at Baylor for the spring semester. 

A member of LSU’s 2019 recruiting class, Ika was the No. 138-ranked prospect nationally according to the industry average and the No. 2-ranked prospect in the state of Utah. Ika signed with LSU over offers from around the country including Alabama, Florida, Oregon, USC, Utah, Ohio State, Penn State and many others. 

After playing four games for the Tigers this fall, Ika announced his decision to opt out of the remainder of the season and enter his name in the transfer portal. According to multiple reports, Ika prefers to play in a 3-4 defense, the staple defensive front in Aranda and defensive coordinator Ron Roberts’ scheme. 

LSU head coach Ed Oregeron wanted to keep Ika, but the new 4-3 scheme implemented by Bo Pelini wasn’t a good fit for Ika.

“We recruited him to play in the 3-4 defense. But with the 4-3 scheme, we wanted more quickness there,” Orgeron said in his Thursday press conference. “He was struggling a little bit. I wanted him to stay. He’s more of a 3-4 nose tackle. I think he can still have a heck of a career.”

Ika becomes Baylor’s second transfer to add in less than a week. It was announced Wednesday that Dartmouth College grad transfer receiver Drew Estrada awould be joining the Bears for his final season of eligibilty. Estrada will enroll for the spring semester.