A former five-star prospect who turned himself into the unquestioned leader of one of the nation’s best defenses, or the naive victim of a hoax that tore a hole through his personal narrative? Surefire tackler and technician of the college football regular season, or over-matched linebacker of the national championship game? First rounder or untouchable?
NFL Draft 2013: Manti Te’o prospect profile
The Notre Dame linebacker might be the most interesting prospect in the world.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
There are better players in the 2013 NFL Draft, but there will not be a player more scrutinized, more discussed, or more fascinating than Notre Dame's Manti Te'o.
Te’o was recruited from Hawaii to Notre Dame by former coach Charlie Weis. He was a top NFL prospect after his junior season, but returned to South Bend for a chance at a national title. His story -- the story that now consumes the nation -- was told early and often. In late September, with the Irish facing a crucial game against Michigan State, Te’o’s grandmother and girlfriend died in quick succession.
He stayed to play against the Spartans, recording 12 tackles in a Notre Dame win, then intercepted two crucial passes against Michigan the next week to catapult the Irish into the national title picture. Te’o, fueled in part by good tackle and interception numbers but more by his narrative of loss and stories of his legendary leadership skills, became the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.
Te’o played miserably in the national championship game against Alabama though, missing tackles he normally made without incident. Two weeks later, he became the center of controversy when it was disclosed that his deceased girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, did not actually exist. Te’o claimed he was the victim of the hoax and not a co-conspirator, but the incident cast massive doubt on his draft status. He remains 15th on the SB Nation Big Board.
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