With the 38th selection of the draft, San Diego traded up from #45 Notre Dame LB, Manti Te’o. Much of the coverage of Te’o in the build-up to the draft has been the catfishing scandal and his poor performance against Alabama in the BCS National Championship game. That seems an unfairly narrow focus to place on a player who is one of the most decorated defensive players in college football history. His play during his senior season led to him winning the Lott Trophy, Maxwell Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, Walter Camp Award and finish second in the Heisman voting, suggesting that there is much more to Te’o than the last few months.
Solid play as a sophomore and junior saw Te’o lead the Fighting Irish in tackles and garner positive media attention with a semi-finalist for the Butkus Award in 2010 and a finalist in 2011. Showing good awareness and instincts against the run Te’o diagnoses plays well and does a nice job of getting to the ball carrier. If there was a criticism of his play it was his average coverage skills, a facet he worked on entering his senior season. The result was a much improved performance and seven interceptions, the most by any FBS linebacker since 2001.
Year | School | Tot | TLoss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF |
2009 | Notre Dame |
63 |
5.5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2010 | Notre Dame |
133 |
9.5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
2011 | Notre Dame |
128 |
13.5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
2012 | Notre Dame |
113 |
5.5 |
1.5 |
7 |
35 |
5 |
0 |
11 |
1 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
Career |
437 |
34 |
8.5 |
7 |
35 |
5 |
0 |
17 |
1 |
8 |
0 |
2 |
College statistics courtesy of Sports Reference.
Fantasy Impact
Te’o has landed into a muddling position with the Chargers as the second ILB spot next to Donald Butler is there to be won, but he’ll be competing with Jonas Mouton (a second round selection two in 2011) and the recently free agent pick-up and former Packer, D.J. Smith. Te’o would be my idea of the marginal favourite to win that camp battle, over Smith, who may have injury issues to deal with considering his shock release form Green Bay last week.
The key to Te’o having top-end fantasy value will be whether he can develop into a three-down linebacker. I am of the opinion that he can, although his slide to the top of round two is a clear indication NFL scouts are not so sure. Even as a two-down ‘backer he can still have LB3/4 value as evidenced by Brandon Spikes and Mason Foster, so from a redraft perspective he will be closely matched with Alec Ogletree, but in dynasty leagues Te’o will have the higher ceiling of the two players as he has the potential play an ILB role, which seems unlikely for Ogletree with James Laurinaitis in St Louis.