SOUTH BEND – Manti Te’o arrived at Notre Dame with a list of accolades almost as big as the expectations for the freshman linebacker.

The Laie, Hawaii, native was rated the second-best high school football player by ESPN and the Sporting News last season. He was the Sporting News’ high school athlete of the year and USA Today’s defensive player of the year in 2008.

He played in the 2009 Under Armour All-American game and was a member of the Hawaii All-Star team in the Hawaii Prep Football Classic, which matches Hawaii all-stars against an all-star team from the mainland.

But the biggest accolade Te’o may have received came from Kale Ane, his former Punahou High School football coach.

“He is almost good enough to go out with my daughter,” Ane said in a telephone interview Thursday.

A lot of fathers who are Irish fans may be saying the same thing – if Te’o delivers on the hype.

And it shouldn’t take long for the freshman linebacker to start producing for Notre Dame.

“I expect to see him on the field in the opener (Sept. 5 against Nevada),” coach Charlie Weis said. “I don’t think we’ll see him standing on the sideline very long.”

Te’o has the credentials to get on the field quickly.

He earned playing time in high school at an accelerated rate, playing as a sophomore.

“We tried not to play him right away, but he earned it,” Ane said. “He works hard. He has always been very mature.”

As a senior at Punahou, Te’o had 129 tackles, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles and three interceptions. That came after a junior campaign in which he had 90 tackles and five sacks.

But Te’o knows he will have to earn playing time.

“It’s competition, and it wouldn’t be football without competition,” said the soft-spoken Te’o, who was surrounded by reporters at his own table during freshmen media day Friday. “Everybody is going out there and competing.

“I think I’ve done pretty well so far, but just like everybody else, I’m just trying to make the team better.”

At 6-foot-2, 244 pounds, Te’o has great physical attributes, and he is well versed in a football-mad culture.

He grew up on the North Shore of Oahu in a community he referred to as “like little Texas.” Te’o said the town would shut down on football Fridays.

“We play a good brand of football,” said Te’o, who traveled an hour and a half each way to attend Punahou, which is in Honolulu.

Te’o has had help adjusting to Notre Dame on and off the field.

Te’o said having receiver Roby Toma, another Punahou graduate, has made the transition easier. The two grew up four houses apart in Laie.

“I don’t think my experience here would be as enjoyable if he wasn’t here,” Te’o said. “He constantly reminds me of home.”

On the field, Te’o received tutoring from senior linebacker Scott Smith, who is also the special teams captain.

Weis said Smith’s work with Te’o put the freshman linebacker ahead mentally.

Te’o and Smith worked together over the summer to help Te’o simplify reads and understand what the Irish want to do defensively.

Te’o has also shadowed Smith during some training camp practices to pick up the nuances of the defense.

“He has a great work ethic,” Smith said. “He has a willingness to learn and ask questions. He shows he wants to learn and get better.”

With the questions answered of when Te’o will play (soon) and whether he is ready physically and mentally (yes), Irish fans are left to wonder whether the linebacker plans to take a two-year Mormon mission after this season.

Te’o is undecided and said he is talking with his parents and church leaders about the decision.

“It is a choice I have to make after this year,” Te’o said.

“I’m focusing on the season. After that, I will make my decision.”

tkrausz@jg.net