Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2018 57 2018 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY COREY BODDEN While high school all-star games can simply be about having fun and meeting new people, the events can also serve as a learning experience. F o r N o t re D a m e s a f e t y s i g n e e P a u l Moala, playing in the 2018 Polynesian Bowl Jan. 20 in Honolulu was much more about the latter than the former. Moala is of Tongan ancestry, which is a subset of the Polyne- sian people. The 5-11, 196-pounder's week in Hawai'i allowed him to connect with his cul- ture and heritage. "It was really a bless- ing to be able to learn more about my culture and teach others about it," Moala told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "It was great to learn more and come closer with where I came from. "We got to go to the Polynesian Culture Center one of the days and I learned more than what I thought I knew when I was down there with my dad. They taught us a lot about who we are, where we come from and why we are the way we are." Tight-knit families are often associated with the Polynesian people and that is no different for Moala and his fam- ily. Spending time with his father and learning more about where they came from together was an experience Moala will never forget. "I think it was mean- ingful to my father as well because there were a lot of things growing up he wasn't able to teach me," Moala explained. "He was able to add on to what was taught there and it was really nice to have that extra voice teaching me. It was a fun experience with him down there." Given his Tongan ancestry, Moala knew much more about his heri- tage and culture compared to other Polynesian cultures, but his time in Hawai'i helped broaden his horizons. "It was great to see how they were raised and see we have a lot in common and are similar to each other," Moala stated. "Respect was one of the big- gest things that I felt was talked about throughout the whole experience. "They really wanted us to respect each other's culture and also respect everyone as people." When Moala makes the short move from Mishawaka, Ind., to Notre Dame, he hopes to continue the tra- dition of Polynesian success at the university, which includes linebacker Manti Te'o and left tackle Ronnie Stanley in recent years. "Manti taught us how to stay hum- ble, and I try to model myself after his game and have that ruthlessness he has and be willing to hit anything that comes his way," Moala said. "I'm trying to learn a lot from those guys who came before me." ✦ PAUL MOALA SAFETY 5-11 · 196 PENN H.S. MISHAWAKA, IND. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — — 19 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 49 8 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 51 9 STATISTICS • Recorded 79 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception as a senior while helping lead Penn to a 13-2 record and the Class 6A state championship game. Also scored seven touchdowns, with five coming on punt and kick returns and two via pass receptions. HONORS • Selected as the Indiana Defensive Player of the Year and an All-USA Indiana first-team performer by USA Today. • Named the 2017 Indianapolis Star Mr. Football Defensive Back by the Indiana Football Coaches Association. • Tabbed as the 2017 Northern Indiana Con- ference's Most Valuable Player by the league's coaches. • Voted a first-team All-NIC defensive back as both a junior and senior. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Played in the 2018 Polynesian Bowl in Ho- nolulu on Jan. 18, 2017, and had a 57-yard punt return for a touchdown. • Attended the Irish Invasion in June 2017 and ran 4.45 40-yard dash. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on Oct. 22, 2017, over offers from Air Force, Iowa, Nebraska and Vanderbilt, among others. • Recruited primarily by defensive line coach Mike Elston, former defensive coordinator Mike Elko and special teams coordinator Brian Polian. • Visited Notre Dame for the Temple and Georgia games Sept. 2 and 9, 2017, respectively, before tak- ing his official for the USC game on Oct. 21, 2017. NOTABLE • Born on Jan. 31, 2000, in Salt Lake City. • Moved from Utah to Indiana when he was younger. • His father was a professional rugby player in Hawai'i. • His older brother Inoke is a sophomore defen- sive end at Indiana State. • First local product to sign with Notre Dame since wide receiver Daniel Smith (2010) from South Bend (Ind.) Clay. • He is the first player from Penn to receive an offer from Notre Dame since offensive lineman Braxton Cave (2008). 2018 PROJECTION • Notre Dame is loaded at the safety position, but Moala's toughness and special teams poten- tial could result in him seeing action there as a freshman. THEY SAID IT Head coach Brian Kelly: "The one guy nobody has mentioned that I love is Paul Moala. A local guy here, how special is that, that we can find a player that ultimately we believe we can compete for a national championship with that fits the academic profile and comes from 10 miles away. "Whenever you can do that, it's great for your program, and he's a wonderful kid with a great family." Safeties coach Terry Joseph: "When you watch him, he plays with his hair on fire. … I think be- cause he didn't get the attention he plays with a chip on his shoulder. … When the game starts, I'm going to get out of the way because he's going to hit anything that's in front of him." BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: "Moala might not grade out as a sure-fire future starter, but he has traits that make you want him on your football team. He is a quality athlete, and if he can start showing his testing speed on the field with greater frequency he could easily outplay this ranking and current projection. He is a hitter and an instinctive player. "With him you know you are going to get a high- effort player, you are going to get someone willing to do whatever he is asked of him and someone who at the very least will become a key part of your special teams units." Paul Moala Aims To Carry On The Polynesian Tradition At ND U S A T o d a y n a m e d M o a l a t h e Indiana Defensive Player of the Year and an All-USA Indiana first-team selection. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM