Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1395005
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com AUGUST 2021 41 BY MIKE SINGER Notre Dame defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Marcus Free- man is on a mission to sign an elite group of recruits in the 2022 class, and he got one step closer to accom- plishing his goal on June 19. Mission Hills (Calif.) Bishop Ale- many inside linebacker Niuafe "Ju- nior" Tuihalamaka announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish on his father's birthday. Freeman and special teams coor- dinator Brian Polian led the charge in securing a commitment from the four-star thumper. "It's Notre Dame; it separates from everyone," Tuihalamaka said about choosing the Fighting Irish. "They're always competing for a national cham- pionship every year and have a great coaching staff. Coach Freeman is one of the greatest coaches you'll ever meet. "Overall, you have the best of both worlds with education and football, and it sets you up to build your net- work after football." Tuihalamaka originally pledged to USC in February 2020, but backed off his commitment in January 2021. He received an offer from the Fighting Irish two days before his decision to open things back up, and Notre Dame jumped to the top of his board. Tuihalamaka felt early in the pro- cess with the Irish staff that he would end up committing to them. "If I'm honest, I knew a week or two after I got my offer from Notre Dame," he said. Tuihalamaka officially visited Texas June 4-6, and there were ru- mors that the Longhorns pulled past Notre Dame to take the lead in his recruitment. However, Tuihalamaka officially visited Notre Dame the fol- lowing weekend and the Irish surged as the heavy favorite to land him. He informed the staff a couple days after returning home from his official visit to South Bend that he would be announcing his commitment to them on Saturday. "It was relieving," he said of the moment he told them of his final de- cision. "I knew where I wanted to go since the beginning, but now I know my family fully supports me going to Notre Dame, and I'm truly happy at Notre Dame. "It was a really happy moment for me and my family." The day before Tuihalamaka an- nounced his commitment to Notre Dame, he took an unofficial visit to USC to see the Trojans once last time. But by that point, his mind was al- ready set on the Fighting Irish. The USC visit was more of a local sight- seeing tour. It helped the Irish that the coach who recruited Te'o was Polian, who took weekly trips out to Hawaii to recruit Te'o — a five-star prospect in the 2009 class and 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist — to Notre Dame, and his efforts were rewarded. Tui- halamaka grew up idolizing Te'o and wears No. 5 because of him. Rivals ranks Tuihalamaka as a four-star talent, the No. 10 prospect in California, and the No. 5 inside linebacker and No. 144 overall player in the country. Stats are not available for his short- ened spring season in 2021, but Tui- halamaka posted 65 tackles, seven tackles for loss and eight quarterback hurries as a sophomore in 2019. Casey Clausen — the older brother of former Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen — is the head coach of Bishop Alemany, Tuihalamaka's high school. Notre Dame went head-to-head with USC for Tuihalamaka and Corona (Ca- lif.) Centennial's Jaden Mickey, a four- star player, the No. 22 player in the Golden State and the nation's No. 38 cornerback per Rivals. The Irish won both recruitments, and hope to make it a California trifecta by landing Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei's CJ Williams, Rivals' No. 3 wide receiver and No. 29 overall recruit in America. Notre Dame and USC are both on Williams' short list, and the rival schools will continue to battle for him. ✦ FILM ANALYSIS "[Niuafe] Tuihalamaka is a well-built linebacker who plays the game like it should be played — all out on every play. He shows very good running speed at the inside linebacker position and is a big hitter. I'm impressed with his quick hands and lateral speed. "A defender who refuses to stay blocked, Tuihalamaka always seems to be around the ball. He's no doubt the No. 1 inside linebacker prospect on the West Coast and will be a Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker) nominee. He's a team leader and has the instincts to become a dominating inside linebacker at the next level." — Prep Football Report's Tom Lemming COMMITMENT PROFILE NIUAFE TUIHALAMAKA Four-Star Linebacker Picks Irish Over USC, Texas And Others Tuihalamaka, Rivals' No. 5 inside linebacker and No. 144 overall player in the country, was committed to USC until the Fighting Irish came along. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM "Overall, you have the best of both worlds with education and football, and it sets you up to build your network after football." TUIHALAMAKA ON NOTRE DAME