On Tuesday August 16th, Netflix released the two-part “Untold: The Girlfriend who Didn’t Exist” documentary on Manti Te’o and his fake girlfriend. If you haven’t watched it, I strongly advise you do. Te’o relives the painful and embarrassing memories of being catfished by Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, who was using photos of Diane O’Meara, under the alias name of ‘Lennay Kekua’. To this day, it is still one of the most bizarre athlete stories of all time.
Focusing more on Te’o playing career, his time and all he accomplished in his four years at Notre Dame deserve a rewind.
Freshman Year (2009):
After not starting his first three collegiate games, the five star linebacker got the starting nod against Purdue on September 26, 2009. Finishing with one total tackle in a win over Purdue, this was just the start of stardom for the 18-year-old. Manti would finish the season with 63 tackles. The 63 tackles by a freshman still ranks third all time in Notre Dame football history behind Bob Golic who racked up 82 tackles in 1975, and Ross Browner who had 68 in 1973.
Award recognition:
- Freshman All-American by College Football News
- Second-team Freshman All-American by Rivals.com
*Notre Dame finished with a 6-6 record.
Sophomore Year (2010):
- 133 total tackles (42 more than his teammate Harrison Smith who finished second with 91).
- 9.5 tackles for loss (1 behind teammate Darius Fleming who finished with 10.5)
- 21 tackles in a game against Stanford on September 25th, 2010 (The most in a game since Chinedum Nduke had 22 on November 11th, 2006, in a win against Air Force) {Bob Golic and Bob Crable both hold the individual game record with 26}.
Award recognition:
Named finalist for Butkus Award (Best College Linebacker) and Bednarik Award (Best Defensive College Player).
-Texas A&M’s Von Miller went on to win the Butkus award.
-LSU’s Patrick Peterson was rewarded the Bednarik award.
- Named Second Team All-American by CNN/Sports Illustrated.
*Record: 8-5 (Defeated Miami 33-17 in the Sun Bowl)
Junior Year (2011):
After leading Notre Dame in tackles his Sophomore season, Te’o followed it up with another big season for the Irish:
- 128 total tackles (38 more than next teammate Harrison Smith at 90)
- 13.5 tackles for loss (5.5 more than Robert Blanton at 8.5)
- Second in sacks with five (0.5 less than teammate Aaron Lynch)
Award recognition:
Finalist for Butkus Award (Best College Linebacker) and Lott Trophy (Awarded to the player who best shows Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity).
-Boston Colleges Luke Kuechly would take home both the Butkus and Lott award.
- 2011 Independent Defensive Player of the year.
- Second team All-American- receiving recognition from The Associated Press, Walter Camp Football Foundation, Rivals.com, and CNN/Sports Illustrated.
*Some of the names on the first-team included Robert Griffin III, Trent Richardson, Robert Woods, Sammy Watkins, Randy Bullock, Luke Kuechly, Dont’a Hightower, and Tyrann Mathieu.
*Joining Te’o on the second-team was Andrew Luck, Tyler Eifert, Lavonte David, and Dre Kirkpatrick.
- To wrap up his Junior year achievements, he was named Second-team Academic All-American by Capital One.
*Record: 8-5 (Lost 18-14 to Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl).
Senior Year (2012):
Instead of going to the NFL draft, Te’o opted to return to Notre Dame for his senior season. This would be the year he claimed all his individual hardware.
Helping lead Notre Dame to a 12-0 regular season before a 42-12 loss to Alabama in the BCS Championship game, Te’o once again was the anchor for the Notre Dame defense:
- 113 total tackles (36 more than next teammate Zeke Motta)
- Led the team with seven interceptions.
^Including this massive interception in Norman against the #5 ranked Oklahoma Sooners. This interception helped Notre Dame improve to 8-0 on the season:
*No FBS linebacker has had more interceptions in a season since Te’o seven in 2012.
Senior Year Awards:
- Lott Trophy
- Chuck Bednarik Award
- Maxwell Award
- Bronko Nagurski Trophy
- Lombardi Award
- Walter Camp Award
- Finished second in Heisman Trophy voting to Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Manti Te’o all-time ranks in Notre Dame football history:
- Third all-time in tackles with 437 (First: Bob Crable-521, Second: Bob Golic-479)
- Players to record 100+ tackles for Notre Dame three consecutive seasons: Bob Crable & Manti Te’o
Bottom Line:
Manti Te’o was a monster his four years in South Bend. From being a highly ranked recruit to quickly becoming a leader for the program, Te’o demonstrated what it meant to lead with class. He was electric, vicious, and determined to finish plays. History should look back and try to remember Manti Te’o for what he was on the field at Notre Dame, a force to be reckoned with.
Senior year highlights:
For an extended highlight tape on Te’o collegiate career:
*For more on Notre Dame football, click here.
Thanks for reading!
Click HERE if you would like to read more of of my articles
Follow me on:
