Strengths:
• Good size with room on frame to bulk up further
• Fundamentally sound tackler and explosive hitter
• Stout in the box and can fill gaps against the run
• Aggressive with great range and flies to the action
• Strong and powerful to take on and shed blockers
• Nice balance and does good job of staying on feet
• Outstanding instincts and has a nose for the ball
• Able to read and react quickly with a burst to close
• Intelligent and is like an extra coach on the field
• Competitive, hard working and a respected leader
• Durable with a ton of high-quality experience
• Offers both schematic and positional versatility
Weaknesses:
• Isn't overly athletic with just average timed speed
• Can be too aggressive and over run tackles at times
• Struggles in space and can be exploited in coverage
• May be naive and has lived a relatively sheltered life
• Might initially create some off-the-field distractions
Injury History:
• Underwent knee surgery following 2010 season
• Minor knicks but never missed significant action
Notes:
A four-year starter for the Fighting Irish --- Became the most decorated college football player in history after winning the Dick Butkus Award (nation’s top linebacker), Bronko Nagurski Trophy (top defender), Walter Camp Award (player of the year), Lombardi Trophy (lineman or linebacker), Chuck Bednarik Award (top defender) and Maxwell Award (top player) while also finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting as a senior --- Named 2nd Team All-American in 2011 and 1st Team in 2012 --- Was a very highly-regarded prep recruit who attended the same high school in Hawaii as President Barack Obama --- Was the victim of a highly-publicized and cruel hoax in which a disturbed fan pretended to be a woman named "
Lennay Kekua", who Te'o developed a long-term relationship with via the phone and internet --- Became a Tim Tebow-esque source of fascination for the national media when the "
Catfishing" scandal broke --- Was more of a thumper early in college career but shed weight prior to senior campaign and became considerably more effective in coverage and space --- Could project to either the middle or outside in a 4-3 or inside in a 3-4 --- Possesses elite intangibles and plays faster in pads than workout numbers would indicate --- May not be a Hall of Famer but the type of player and team leader you can plug into the starting lineup immediately and not have to worry about for a decade --- Not particularly flashy but just a good football player and is one of the safest prospects in the Class of 2013.
NFL Player Comparison: James Laurinaitis
| Career Statistics |
| Year |
GP |
TKL |
TFL |
SACK |
PBU |
INT |
| 2009 |
12 |
63 |
5.5 |
1.0 |
1 |
0 |
| 2010 |
12 |
129 |
8.5 |
1.0 |
3 |
0 |
| 2011 |
13 |
128 |
13.5 |
5.0 |
2 |
0 |
| 2012 |
12 |
103 |
5.5 |
1.5 |
4 |
7 |
| Totals |
49 |
423 |
33.0 |
8.5 |
10 |
7 |
|
|
