Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MARCH 2024 77 BY MIKE SINGER Honolulu Punahou class of 2025 line- backer Ko'o Kia arrived at Notre Dame Jan. 12 for a unique visit. His time in South Bend was two- fold; he was there as a recruit who has a handful of Power Five offers and also as the younger brother of a Notre Dame player (Kahanu Kia) who returned to the school after a two-year Mormon mis- sion trip. He had a full recruiting experience for the first 36 hours or so while on cam- pus. And then on Monday, Jan. 15, he had more meetings with the staff, which included a sit-down conversation with Notre Dame head coach Marcus Free- man. And the leader of the Fighting Irish program received his commitment. "Going into the visit, Notre Dame was already the favorite for me because of what it brings to the table with a great football program, great school and a whole lot of opportunities," Kia told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "When I got to the campus and experienced everything, it was so much more than I expected." Kia informed Freeman of his decision to commit during that sit-down chat. "He was asking me about how the visit went, and I told him how much I loved it and that I wanted to spend my college career at Notre Dame," recalled Kia. "He was very excited. It was a great moment." Kia is pumped. His family is fired up, and that would definitely include his older brother, Kahanu. They're going to be able to play on the same team for the first time, and they may get to play three seasons together at Notre Dame. "That's going to be really cool," the younger Kia said. "I've never played with him before because I've been four years behind him. When I was in eighth grade, he was in his senior year. "All throughout youth football, I was never able to play with him. I've trained with him a lot, so it won't be too new, but it'll definitely be really special. I attribute a lot of my success to him. "I'm ready to put in the work. I'm go- ing to be ready next year." Kia has the versatility and size at 6-2, 190 pounds to play multiple positions in the front seven. His brother came to Notre Dame as a linebacker and moved to defensive end in 2021. It remains to be seen what position Kahanu will play for the Irish moving forward, but Ko'o does offer similar positional versatility. "They see me as one of their two in- side linebackers," the younger Kia noted. "But wherever they need me, I'll play. I'm willing to learn whatever position to get on the field as quickly as possible." Kahanu played in two games for the Irish in 2021. He made 4 tackles against Navy and appeared in the game against Toledo. He returns to Notre Dame with four years of eligibility because he only played in two games in 2021 and his eligi- bility clock paused while on his two-year mission. Ko'o may also take a mission before or during his time at Notre Dame. "They've [the Notre Dame coaches] told me many times before that whatever I decide, they're completely on board and supportive with what I choose," he noted. Kia has seen how the Notre Dame staff treated his brother with regard to taking a two-year mission trip. And it's been very positive. "They really do honor their word and mean what they say," Kia stated. "He's back there now and on the team again. Coach Freeman is so genuine." His father, Nate Kia, played for the Utah Utes in the mid-1990s. The elder Kia is currently Ko'o's head coach at Pu- nahou and was named the Hawaii 2023- 24 Open Division Football Coach of the Year. Kia is one of two linebacker commits for the Irish in the 2025 class, joining Il- linois' product Dominik Hulak. On3 ranks Kia as the No. 2 prospect in Hawai'i and the No. 55 linebacker in the country. ✦ Hawaiian Linebacker Will Reunite With His Brother In South Bend COMMITMENT PROFILE KO'O KIA Kia, the No. 2 prospect in Hawai'i and No. 55 linebacker in the nation per On3, committed to Notre Dame in January. PHOTO COURTESY KO'O KIA FILM ANALYSIS "Ko'o Kia shows the length, quickness, ath- letic ability and toughness needed to remain at linebacker and play for a Power Five school. He's excellent in pursuit and very tough to block because of his quickness. "He needs to fill out and add strength, but he certainly has what it takes to make a name for himself at the next level. I was impressed with his closing speed and ability to hit." — Prep Football Report recruiting analyst Tom Lemming "That's going to be really cool. … All throughout youth football, I was never able to play with him. I've trained with him a lot, so it won't be too new, but it'll definitely be really special." KO'O KIA ON PLAYING WITH HIS BROTHER KAHANU AT NOTRE DAME