Notre Dame Football All-Decade Team: Linebacker

Manti Te’o (2009-2012)

Although Smith is the superior athlete, Te’o is one of the most decorated defensive players in the history of college football. Starting all but two games during his four year career, Te’o tallied over 430 tackles, over 30 tackles for loss, nearly 10 sacks, and 7 interceptions. He was an All-American his last two seasons and finished second in the Heisman voting during his senior year despite being the best player on the National Championship Runner-Up squad.

For how special Te’o was, his senior season will always be considered one of the greatest defensive seasons in college football history, and the headlines that were made — both good and bad — will always be entrenched into the hearts and minds of college football fans that followed. The Notre Dame football team was embarrassed on the national stage against Alabama in the National Championship game and it was probably the worst game of Te’o’s college career. Some before that game were calling him the best player in the 2013 draft. Unfortunately, his poor play and warts that showed in that game were enhanced even further when the whole fake girlfriend hoax came out. Some blamed Te’o and said he was liar. Others said he was naive and a distraction. His image was somewhat tainted and he eventually fell to the second round.

The San Diego Charges selected him in the second round, and while Te’o hasn’t enjoyed the same success he had in college, he does have over 300 career tackles and 49 career starts to his name. He spent the majority of 2019 unsigned, but was picked back up by the New Orleans Saints and started 2 out of the 3 games he appeared in after signing. At age 28, Te’o could still enjoy more years of NFL success before he hangs up the cleats.

While Jaylon won the fan poll on Twitter, it was hard to have him over Te’o based on purely the numbers. However, both guys deserve mention on the All-Decade team.