Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o wins two national awards
From Notre Dame Sports Information and Maxwell Football Club
For the second consecutive week, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o has been named the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week. He has also been named the Chuck Bednarik Player of the Week winner by the Maxwell Football Club.
Te’o had two second-half interceptions and eight total tackles to help the Irish defeat Michigan, 13-6 this past Saturday and improve to 4-0. It marked the second time in two weeks that Notre Dame held a ranked opponent to six or fewer points since 1943.
Te’o, a Lott IMPACT Trophy finalist a year ago, was also the Player of the Week for his performance against Michigan State Sept. 15.
In recognition of Te’o’s performance, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, sponsors of the Lott IMPACT Trophy, will make a $1,000 donation to the general scholarship fund at Notre Dame.
He’s been the most powerful force on the field tonight, said NBC announcer Tom Hammond near the end of the telecast.
I’m taking being a leader on this team very seriously and it’s very humbling, Te’o said last week. The sky’s the limit for not only this defense, but this team.
I tend to play the game with controlled rage. I’m not one to get out there, jumping around and hollering. That’s not my thing. But when the coaches asked me to be more vocal, I thought that’s what being vocal meant. That just wasn’t me.
Te’o leads the Irish with 38 tackles and has added two tackles for loss. His three interceptions and two fumble recoveries are career highs and lead the team. The Irish defense has allowed 36 points this season and ranks fourth in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in scoring defense, allowing nine points per game. The 36 points allowed through four games are the fewest by a Notre Dame defense since 1975.
Te’o and the Irish are off this week and return Oct. 6 vs. Miami (Fla.) at Soldier Field in Chicago.
