Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IRISH IN THE PROS BY ANDREW OWENS D uring Manti Te'o's four seasons at Notre Dame, he was always in the middle of everything. He started 49 games out of a pos‑ sible 51 while in South Bend. More significantly, the defense transformed from one of the worst nationally to a unit that helped the program surge in 2012 during a rise to the BCS National Championship Game. Te'o never left a game due to injury in four seasons with the Irish, but was plagued by them in each of his first two professional seasons. Now he's healthy and making a difference on the field for the San Diego Chargers. Through four games, Te'o had reg‑ istered 33 tackles and one pass broken up for the 2‑2 Chargers. But he's more focused on the tackles he misses than the ones he makes. "I missed two," the linebacker told reporters after a 13‑tackle effort in a 30‑27 win over Cleveland Oct. 4. "Those are the only tackles that I am concerned with right now." Rarely does Te'o come off the field for a play, even in third‑down pack‑ ages. He's developed into an every‑ down player for the team. "I can tell just from last year he has a lot more confidence out there in what he's doing," former Irish offen‑ sive lineman and Chargers starting center Chris Watt said. "I see him kind of getting more into that — just the way he plays and carries himself on the field." "The majority of the game is men‑ tal," Te'o added. "So we're going to do as much as we can to win the game before the ball is snapped. Yeah, I understand why we are doing some things. "I think it allows the defense to do more when we all understand why we do certain things." Last December, Te'o's first career interception came from the right arm of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and was intended for the NFL's top tight end, Rob Gronkowski. His knack for forcing turnovers — seven interceptions and two forced fumbles — helped the Irish finish the 2012 regular season undefeated with the nation's top scoring defense. With the NFL consuming his fall weekends, Te'o rarely can return to Notre Dame. He did, however, trek back to campus during the sum‑ mer to visit a place he calls home and still has great affection for after it defended him during the Lennay Kekua girlfriend hoax perpetrated by Ronaiah Tuiasosopo. "This place just means that much to me," he told The South Bend Tri- bune when he returned during the summer. "Definitely looks different. Still have the same memories walking around this place." Manti Te'o Takes On Larger Role In San Diego