Lisa Horne of Fox Sports broke the news Sunday that Notre Dame junior Manti Te'o won't enter enter the 2012 NFL Draft. Te'o is arguably the best middle linebacker prospect in the nation.
2012 NFL Draft: Manti Te’o returning to Notre Dame for senior season
“I feel I’m not done at Notre Dame. I’ll be coming back to Notre Dame,” Te’o said, and Horne tweeted out Sunday evening at the Lott Trophy awards. Te’o’s father, Brian Te’o, confirmed a report to the Chicago Tribune. It was also confirmed by the university in a release.
This season, Te’o leads Notre Dame with 115 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He was a finalist for the Butkus Awarda nd Lott Trophy.
As Horne noted, it left the crowd applauding the the junior’s decision.
Horne also reports that Alabama’s Dont’a Hightower says he knows whether he’s coming back or not, but won’t say publicly yet. By my guess, that means he’s entering the draft. Hightower’s stock will surely see a boost without Te’o in front of him.
Juniors have until Jan. 15 to declare for the draft.
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