Liufau finished the 2024 season with 50 tackles (30 solo), including 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery across 17 games. Selected in the third round, at No. 87 overall, of the 2024 NFL Draft, Liufau made nine starts as a rookie, playing 47 percent of the Cowboys' defensive snaps. Liufau took over every-down linebacker duties during the final four weeks of the season after DeMarvion Overshown suffered a torn ACL, MCL and PCL in his right knee. With Overshown looking at a lengthy recovery and Eric Kendricks slated for free agency, Liufau should have a chance to be an every-down linebacker in 2025.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Marist Liufau news
Team
Dallas Cowboys
Birthdate
2/9/2001 (24)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'2", 239 lbs
Draft Info
2024: Rd 3; Pk (DAL)
Birthplace
Kalihi, HI, USA
Position
LB
College
Notre Dame
Career History
Dallas Cowboys
2024-Present
(1 season)
Liufau finished the 2024 season with 50 tackles (30 solo), including 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery across 17 games. Selected in the third round, at No. 87 overall, of the 2024 NFL Draft, Liufau made nine starts as a rookie, playing 47 percent of the Cowboys' defensive snaps. Liufau took over every-down linebacker duties during the final four weeks of the season after DeMarvion Overshown suffered a torn ACL, MCL and PCL in his right knee. With Overshown looking at a lengthy recovery and Eric Kendricks slated for free agency, Liufau should have a chance to be an every-down linebacker in 2025.
Liufau recorded five tackles (two solo) including a forced fumble during Sunday's 30-14 win at Carolina. Liufau punched the ball out of the arms of a diving Bryce Young during the Panthers' first drive of the game, keeping them off the scoreboard despite reaching the red zone. He figures to retain a near-every down role in Week 16 when Dallas hosts the Buccaneers.
Liufau figures to replace DeMarvion Overshown, who is undergoing surgery to repair a knee injury he sustained Monday versus the Bengals, as a starter for the remainder of the season, Todd Archer of ESPN reports. After Overshown was forced out of Monday's game early by the gruesome injury, Liufau filled in admirably, and he recorded the first sack as a pro in Week 14. If he sees serious competition for playing time at inside linebacker next to Eric Kendricks during the rest of this year, it will likely come from 2022 fifth-rounder Damone Clark.
Liufau recorded five tackles (four solo) and a fumble recovery in Sunday's 34-6 loss to the Eagles. The outside linebacker replaced starter DeMarvion Overshown after the latter exited the game with a knee injury in the third quarter. Overshown's injury is not believed to be serious, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. That could limit Liufau's playing time moving forward, as he has only played on more than 50 percent of the defensive snaps once this season.