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SOUTH BEND – After glimpses of Manti Te’o in Notre Dame’s first four games this season, the freshman linebacker was cut loose in the fifth game.
Te’o made his first home start and played more in the team’s base defense during the Irish’s 37-30 overtime victory over Washington last Saturday.
The native of Laie, Hawaii, recorded 10 tackles against the Huskies, playing in front of more than the home crowd.
Te’o’s parents, Brian and Ottilia, attended the game. After Notre Dame (4-1) secured the victory, he ran over to the stands to hug them.
“Whenever you have people who you love there in person to watch you play, it is always something special,” said Te’o, whose parents also attended the season opener against Nevada.
“It is extra motivation to me to do my best. I never play just for myself, I always play for them.”
Te’o’s passion is part of what makes him a good player, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said.
Weis compared Te’o’s enthusiasm to former Pro Bowl linebacker Junior Seau.
“If you remember anything about Junior Seau and how he played, that’s the same type of enthusiasm that Manti plays the game with,” said Weis, who became close with Seau after the 1998 Pro Bowl.
The 6-foot-2, 244-pound Te’o, who has 16 tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack, has been a steady contributor since recording two tackles in the season-opening 35-0 win over Nevada on Sept. 5.
Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jon Tenuta said Te’o had to adjust to playing disciplined defense. Instead of going after the quarterback on every play as he did in high school, Te’o has learned to follow his assignments inside the scheme.
Te’o is getting help from veteran linebackers Scott Smith, Toryan Smith and Brian Smith to develop into a better player.
“Whenever you have bunch of upperclassmen, especially when they have the same last name, it helps,” Te’o said.
“They know a lot more about not only college football and the scheme, but life as a college student. You always try to take advantage of what they know. They are like parents.”
Scott Smith said that along with having the size, speed and athletic ability to play, Te’o is invested mentally into becoming an elite linebacker.
“He has really put the work in studying film and trying to learn the play book to put himself in a position to play,” Scott Smith said. “Whatever he’s done here and will do here, whether people like myself have tried to help him along the way, he really deserves all the credit for everything that he’s accomplished.”
