Tag: Manti Te’o

Could Manti Te’o be headed to NFL Network?

Mornings with Manti?

One of the better sports morning shows over the years has been Good Morning Football on NFL Network.  Although the show hasn’t been the same since Kay Adams departed in 2022, it still remains one of the better morning talk shows as there are actual discussions instead of just loud noises and strawman arguments.

The show is currently on hiatus as it moves from New York to Los Angeles and is also looking for a new co-host as former NFL defensive back Jason McCourty isn’t moving with the show.

According to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, former Notre Dame great [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag] is a name to keep an eye on to potentially replace McCourty.

Akbar Gbajabiamila, who played for the Raiders, Chargers, and Dolphins in his career was also mentioned as a potential replacement.

Te’o of course was one of the best linebackers to ever play at Notre Dame, finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2012.  He spent 8 seasons in the NFL with the Chargers, Saints, and Bears from 2013-2020.

Related: Best photos of Manti Te’o at Notre Dame

A Look Back at Manti Te’o’s Legendary Career at Notre Dame

One of the all-time greats in Notre Dame history!

Monday brought news of the latest nominations to join the College Football Hall of Fame class of 2024 with all-time great Notre Dame linebacker [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag] appearing on the ballot for the first time.

Te’o was a mega-recruit out of Hawai’i that stunned the college football world when he committed to Notre Dame over USC back in the winter of 2009.

Te’o didn’t take long to make an impact as he recorded 63 tackles as a true freshman in what wound up being Charlie Weis’ final year as head coach.

2010 saw Te’o make a career high in tackles when he recorded 133 while recording one sack and making 9.5 tackles for loss while in 2011 he recorded a career high 13.5 tackles for loss.

Te’o went from being very good to downright great in 2012 however.  That year Te’o was the unquestioned leader of Notre Dame’s elite defense as he recorded 113 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 5.5 tackles for loss.  His seven interceptions were a huge reason he was a Heisman Trophy finalist as he helped lead Notre Dame to a 12-0 regular season before falling in the national championship game.

Take a look back at the best photos of Manti Te’o at Notre Dame below:

Manti Te’o is on the ballot to be a 2025 College Football Hall of Famer

Hopefully Manti gets the nod

As we all remember, Notre Dame linebacker [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag] had an illustrious career for the Irish.

He was a two-time All-American, won the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Lott Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award, and the Lombardi Trophy during his senior year in 2012. Te’o’s hardware during that year was impressive and it was enough for the National Football Foundation to add his as a nominee to be enshrined into its Hall of Fame.

Multiple other big names made the list as well like former Irish assistant [autotag]Urban Meyer[/autotag], Alabama head coach [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag], Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald and center Olin Kreutz.

Hopefully the voters get this right and add Te’o to the Hall of Fame.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

Two Notre Dame players named to Lott Trophy Watch List

Watch list season has begun.

June officially is upon us, which means we’re one step closer to college football returning. That also means award watch lists are starting to come out, and plenty of Notre Dame players will be on them considering the Irish are expected to be College Football Playoff contenders. We have our first such instance now.

[autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag] and [autotag]Howard Cross III[/autotag] have been named to the watch list for the Lott Trophy, which is given annually the best defensive IMPACT player. It considers character as well as play, the only major college football award to do so. [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag] is the lone previous winner for the Irish, taking the award in 2012.

The initial list consists of 42 names, so that obviously means a lot of competition for both players. Hopefully, at least one of them somehow stand out above the rest when the winner is announced during the ceremony Dec. 8 in Newport Beach, California.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Catch Manti Teo on National Football Morning Show, Thursday

Check out Manti in the morning

If you’re wondering what legendary Notre Dame linebacker [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag] has been up to recently you’ll have a chance to find out Thursday.

Te’o will join Kay Adams on FanDuel TV’s Up & Adams show Thursday.  The show airs at 11 a.m. ET.

Te’o is slated to discuss his playing career, life in post-retirement, and more.  Adams is one of the better football media personalities when it comes to connecting with athletes and making their interviews much less run of the mill.

Te’o starred at Notre Dame from 2009-2012, finishing second in the Heisman Trophy race his final year.  That was the same year he helped the Fighting Irish to a 12-0 regular season and national championship game appearance.

Related: Manti Te’o Through the Years

Happy Birthday to Notre Dame Legend, Manti Te’o!

Happy (belated) Birthday to a true Notre Dame legend!

In the long history of Notre Dame football few players have been as popular as linebacker Manti Te’o.

Te’o was one of the highest rated recruits to ever end up at Notre Dame, shocking the world and picking the Irish over USC on national signing day in 2009.

He found the field quickly at Notre Dame and before he left he’d become a legend in Fighting Irish lore.

Te’o is most remembered for his incredible 2012 season as a senior when he helped guide Notre Dame to a 12-0 regular season record and wound up second in the Heisman Trophy voting that year.

He ended his Notre Dame career with 437 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, and seven interceptions.  Te’o went on to play in the NFL for the Chargers, Saints, and Bears from 2013-2020.

Te’o turns 33-years old today (January 26) so big-time birthday greetings go his way.

Celebrate Manti, one of truly the greatest players to ever wear blue and gold, by checking out our photo gallery of the legend below.

Notre Dame’s JD Bertrand named First-Team Academic All-American

The captain is quite smart.

[autotag]JD Bertrand[/autotag] was a captain at Notre Dame the past two years. Somehow, that didn’t take the linebacker away from his studies enough for his grades to suffer. In fact, he absolutely thrived in the classroom, and now, he’s been recognized for that.

Bertrand has been named a First-Team Academic All-American by the College Sports Communicators. He’s the 37th Irish player to be so honored and the first since [autotag]Drue Tranquill[/autotag] in 2016 and 2017. Other Irish honorees over the years include [autotag]Mike Golic Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag], [autotag]John Carlson[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Theismann[/autotag].

Bertrand was recognized by virtue of earning a 3.62/3.74 GPA. He also was named to the CSC Academic All-District Team alongside [autotag]Jack Kiser[/autotag] and [autotag]Davis Sherwood[/autotag]. There are some smart players on the Irish indeed.

Bertand’s current focus is preparing for the NFL draft. Whoever picks him, if anybody, will be getting someone with intelligence and leadership qualities. Hopefully, those will be on full display at the next level.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

A Christmas Eve Memory: Notre Dame’s 2008 trip to Hawaii Bowl

15 years ago today!

It is Christmas Eve so first and foremost – a very Merry Christmas to you and your family.

It’s not a day that you usually think too long or hard about football but 15 years ago today Notre Dame was putting a bow on the 2008 season with an appearance in the Hawaii Bowl.

The game came after a disappointing season for Notre Dame.  After starting 2-0 and at one point being 4-1, the Irish stumbled down the stretch and finished the regular season just 6-6.

Often times that would have meant Notre Dame turning down a bowl game.  Well, it just so happened that a trip to Hawai’i for a bowl game meant another chance to try and recruit then mega-prospect [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag].

Was it the only reason Notre Dame accepted the invitation?  Certainly not, but it clearly helped their chances with the star linebacker, too.

Anyway, back to the game.  Notre Dame hadn’t won a bowl game since New Year’s Day 1994 at this time, having lost nine-straight.  Notre Dame came out on Christmas Eve with their names on their jerseys for the first time in decades, and proceeded to roll Hawai’i, 49-21.

Check out some of the highlights below:

It would set the table for what many thought would be a big 2009 season for Notre Dame but unfortunately the Irish would again finish just 6-6, Charlie Weis would be fired, and a bowl game wouldn’t be in the cards.

Regardless, for roughly three-and-a-half hours that Christmas Eve, seemingly everything regarding Notre Dame football was right during an era that it almost always certainly wasn’t.

[lawrence-related id=24296]

[lawrence-related id=23764]

Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts wins Bronko Nagurski Trophy

X won it!!!!

Not many expected Notre Dame football safety [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] to have a huge year, but it was a pleasant surprise for Irish fans.

The senior would lead the country in interceptions with seven, also causing and recovering a fumble. Tack on 47 total tackles, and that’s quite the season for a safety.

It was more than enough to get the attention of the [autotag]Bronko Nagurski Trophy[/autotag] committee, because on Monday night, Watts won the award. The award goes out annually to the best defensive player in college football, and he becomes the first Notre Dame player to win the award since linebacker [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag] in 2012.

A massive honor for Watts, who came into the program as a wide receiver. It’s safe to say that the position switch paid off. Congrats Xavier!

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

What the experts are predicting: Notre Dame vs. USC

See who thinks the Irish have a chance.

Notre Dame really needs to find a way to beat USC. The national title hopes are gone, but this could be key in determining the direction of the program. Win, and everything will seem fine, at least for one night. Lose, and even more questions will be raised.

Here are the prognostications from some college football experts: