DAVIS, Calif. -- As the third week of the UC Davis winter practice season kicks into gear, we continue our ongoing series introducing Aggie fans to unsung heroes and up-and-comers within the football program. On a team of more than 100 student-athletes playing a variety of roles, some players are relative unknowns to even the most ardent followers. Once again, we highlight one player from each position group who UC Davis football fans should get to know.
Today, we go to the defensive line with Sione Aliki, a fourth-year managerial economics major from North Hollywood.
WHY AGGIE FANS MIGHT NOT KNOW HIM:
A former league Defensive Lineman of the Year at Calabasas High, Aliki redshirted his true freshman year of 2016 and did not appear in a game during his next two years. He even suited up as a reserve offensive lineman in 2018. Last fall, he saw action early in the season but suffered a season-ending injury that sidelined him for the entirety of November.
WHY AGGIE FANS SHOULD KNOW HIM:
The Aggie faithful got a taste of Aliki's abilities during the September 14 home opener with Lehigh. He recorded a hurry on quarterback Devon Bibbens on a third-and-16 in a second quarter, then came up with a 4-yard sack against Tyler Monaco on a subsequent series. As defensive line coach Jerry Brady recalls, Aliki used his speed off the edge, chased down the quarterback from the far side of the field and wrapped him Monaco around the ankles. Aliki posted two more tackles in the fourth, stopping Zaythan Hill for no gain in the Aggie red zone.
ACCORDING TO JERRY BRADY, DEFENSIVE LINE COACH:
"He's a fast dude, he's explosive and really gets off the ball. He's a really good pass rusher. I think he's a guy who on third downs can really change games with his effort, energy and the way he plays. That play last year against Lehigh... I think those are the things he can do on a down-to-down basis.
"Nobody really has seen what he can do in the run game so I'm excited for him to take that next step and develop as a run stopper. I think he's doing that every single day. The stuff we're doing now will only help him and it fits his skill set. We're going to see a lot of him in the coming year."
ABOUT UC DAVIS: Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal, and among the top 10 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.
AGGIE EVO: Established in 2017-18, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation. Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis. Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.
MARYA WELCH INITIATIVE: Named after the former physical education instructor, coach and Dean of Women who founded women's sports on the campus 25 years before the passage of Title IX, the Marya Welch Initiative for Women's Athletics provides comprehensive support for UC Davis' 16 women's athletics programs. Through the support of the Marya Welch Initiative and its group members, student-athletes are provided the best possible opportunity to succeed inside the classroom, and in competition, through special project gifts and by increasing visibility and participation at women's events throughout the year. All gifts to the Marya Welch Initiative are matched 1:1, doubling the impact on our women's programs. Visit this site for more information.
DON'T MISS OUT: Tickets for all UC Davis sports are on sale by contacting the Athletics Ticket Office at (530) 752-AGS1 or by visiting us online at tickets.ucdavis.edu.
