High School: Punahou School, Honolulu, Hawaii
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 225 pounds
National Ranking: Te'o is ranked as the No. 2 inside linebacker in the country by Rivals.com and the No. 1 strong-side linebacker in the country by Scout.com.
The Lowdown:
Though the state of Hawaii has turned out some good players in recent years, it's rare that the island produces a prospect as good as Manti Te'o—a linebacker considered by many to be one of the very best in the nation.A defender with pure instincts and a great nose for the ball, Te'o has built a reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the country. But watch this kid on film and it's clear that he's not only supremely talented, but also really well-schooled. He's aggressive, smart, strong and fast. In short, he's everything you could want in a college linebacker.
The Numbers:
Te'o capped a remarkable high school career with a stellar senior season.He racked up 129 tackles, including 11 sacks, forced three fumbles, picked off three passes and even blocked a punt. For his efforts, he was named winner of the first-ever high school Dick Butkus Award, given to the nation's top high school linebacker.
Te'o also played some offense, rushing for four touchdowns and catching two others.
