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Manti Te'o Draft: NFL Draft Profile, Stats, And Highlights

Trends January 16, 2025

Who is Manti Te'o, and why was his NFL draft status so highly anticipated?

Manti Te'o is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Te'o was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school, and he played college football at Notre Dame. He was a consensus All-American and won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker in 2012. Te'o was also a member of the BCS National Championship team in 2012.

Te'o's NFL career was not as successful as his college career. He was plagued by injuries and never lived up to the expectations that were placed on him. He was released by the Chargers in 2016 and played for the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears before retiring in 2017.

Despite his NFL struggles, Te'o remains a popular figure. He is known for his positive attitude and his work with the Manti Te'o Foundation, which supports children with cancer.

Manti Te'o Draft

The 2013 NFL Draft was a highly anticipated event for Manti Te'o, a consensus All-American linebacker from Notre Dame. Te'o was projected to be a first-round pick, but he ultimately fell to the second round, where he was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the 38th overall pick.

Position: Linebacker
College: Notre Dame
Draft Year: 2013
Draft Round: 2
Draft Pick: 38th overall
Team: San Diego Chargers
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 255 lbs

Te'o's draft status was highly anticipated because of his impressive college career. He was a two-time All-American and won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker in 2012. He also helped lead Notre Dame to the BCS National Championship Game that same year. However, Te'o's draft stock fell somewhat after he was the victim of a catfishing scam in which he was led to believe he was in a relationship with a woman who did not exist. Despite this, Te'o was still considered to be one of the best linebackers available in the draft.

1. Position

Manti Te'o played the position of linebacker in football. Linebackers are responsible for defending against the run and pass, and they often have to make tackles on ball carriers and receivers. Te'o was a standout linebacker in college, and he was one of the most highly touted prospects in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Tackling: Linebackers are responsible for making tackles on ball carriers and receivers. Te'o was a sure tackler, and he had a knack for making big hits.
Coverage: Linebackers also have to cover receivers in pass coverage. Te'o was a good coverage linebacker, and he was able to stay with receivers in man-to-man coverage.
Pass rushing: Some linebackers are also responsible for pass rushing. Te'o was not a great pass rusher, but he was able to generate pressure on the quarterback on occasion.
Leadership: Linebackers are often leaders on the defense. Te'o was a vocal leader on the Notre Dame defense, and he was able to motivate his teammates to play at a high level.

Te'o's position as a linebacker was a major factor in his success in college and in the NFL. He was a versatile player who could make tackles, cover receivers, and rush the passer. His skills as a linebacker made him a valuable asset to any defense.

2. College

Manti Te'o's college career at Notre Dame was a major factor in his success in the NFL Draft. He was a two-time All-American and won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker in 2012. He also helped lead Notre Dame to the BCS National Championship Game that same year.

Te'o's success at Notre Dame was due in part to the school's strong football program. Notre Dame is one of the most prestigious college football programs in the country, and it has a long history of producing NFL players. The school's coaching staff is also one of the best in the country, and they were able to help Te'o develop into a top NFL prospect.

In addition to the school's strong football program, Te'o also benefited from playing with some of the best players in the country. Notre Dame's defense was one of the best in the country in 2012, and Te'o was a key part of that success. He was able to learn from and play alongside some of the best players in the country, which helped him to develop his skills and prepare for the NFL.

Te'o's success at Notre Dame was a major factor in his success in the NFL Draft. He was able to develop his skills and prepare for the NFL in a top-notch college football program. He also benefited from playing with some of the best players in the country.

3. Draft Year

The 2013 NFL Draft was a significant event in Manti Te'o's career. He was considered to be one of the best linebackers available in the draft, and he was projected to be a first-round pick. However, he ultimately fell to the second round, where he was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the 38th overall pick.

High expectations: Te'o was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school, and he played college football at Notre Dame. He was a consensus All-American and won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker in 2012. As a result, there were high expectations for Te'o in the NFL Draft.
Catfishing scandal: In the months leading up to the draft, Te'o was the victim of a catfishing scam in which he was led to believe he was in a relationship with a woman who did not exist. This scandal may have damaged Te'o's draft stock, as some teams may have been concerned about his judgment and maturity.
Injury concerns: Te'o also had some injury concerns coming out of college. He had surgery on his foot in 2012, and he also missed some games in 2013 due to a knee injury. These injuries may have also contributed to his fall in the draft.
Positional value: Linebackers are not as highly valued in the NFL as they once were. This is due in part to the rise of spread offenses, which require defenses to be more versatile and athletic. As a result, Te'o may have fallen in the draft because he is not as good of a fit for the modern NFL.

Despite falling to the second round, Te'o was still considered to be a good value pick for the Chargers. He was a talented player with a lot of potential. However, he was never able to live up to the high expectations that were placed on him, and he was released by the Chargers after four seasons.

4. Draft Round

Manti Te'o was drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. This was a bit of a surprise, as many experts expected him to be a first-round pick. However, Te'o's draft stock fell somewhat after he was the victim of a catfishing scam in which he was led to believe he was in a relationship with a woman who did not exist. Despite this, Te'o was still considered to be one of the best linebackers available in the draft, and the Chargers were happy to select him with the 38th overall pick.

First-round expectations: Te'o was a consensus All-American and won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker in 2012. He was also a member of the BCS National Championship team that same year. As a result, many experts expected Te'o to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft.
Catfishing scandal: In the months leading up to the draft, Te'o was the victim of a catfishing scam in which he was led to believe he was in a relationship with a woman who did not exist. This scandal may have damaged Te'o's draft stock, as some teams may have been concerned about his judgment and maturity.
Injury concerns: Te'o also had some injury concerns coming out of college. He had surgery on his foot in 2012, and he also missed some games in 2013 due to a knee injury. These injuries may have also contributed to his fall in the draft.
Positional value: Linebackers are not as highly valued in the NFL as they once were. This is due in part to the rise of spread offenses, which require defenses to be more versatile and athletic. As a result, Te'o may have fallen in the draft because he is not as good of a fit for the modern NFL.

5. Draft Pick

The 38th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft was a significant moment in Manti Te'o's career. He was considered to be one of the best linebackers available in the draft, and he was projected to be a first-round pick. However, he ultimately fell to the second round, where he was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the 38th overall pick.

High expectations: Te'o was a consensus All-American and won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker in 2012. He was also a member of the BCS National Championship team that same year. As a result, there were high expectations for Te'o in the NFL Draft.
Catfishing scandal: In the months leading up to the draft, Te'o was the victim of a catfishing scam in which he was led to believe he was in a relationship with a woman who did not exist. This scandal may have damaged Te'o's draft stock, as some teams may have been concerned about his judgment and maturity.
Injury concerns: Te'o also had some injury concerns coming out of college. He had surgery on his foot in 2012, and he also missed some games in 2013 due to a knee injury. These injuries may have also contributed to his fall in the draft.
Positional value: Linebackers are not as highly valued in the NFL as they once were. This is due in part to the rise of spread offenses, which require defenses to be more versatile and athletic. As a result, Te'o may have fallen in the draft because he is not as good of a fit for the modern NFL.

6. Team

The San Diego Chargers were the team that drafted Manti Te'o in the 2013 NFL Draft. Te'o was a highly touted prospect coming out of college, and the Chargers were hoping that he would be a key player on their defense for years to come. However, Te'o's NFL career was not as successful as his college career, and he was released by the Chargers after four seasons.

There are a number of factors that contributed to Te'o's struggles in the NFL. One factor was that he was not as good of a fit for the Chargers' defensive scheme as he was for Notre Dame's defensive scheme. The Chargers ran a 3-4 defense, which requires linebackers to be more athletic and versatile than they do in a 4-3 defense. Te'o was not as good at covering receivers in man-to-man coverage as he was at making tackles in the running game. As a result, he was not able to make as much of an impact on the Chargers' defense as they had hoped.

Another factor that contributed to Te'o's struggles was that he was never able to fully recover from the catfishing scandal that he was involved in in the months leading up to the draft. The scandal damaged Te'o's reputation, and it also made it difficult for him to focus on football. As a result, he was not able to perform at his best on the field.

Despite his struggles in the NFL, Te'o remains a popular figure. He is known for his positive attitude and his work with the Manti Te'o Foundation, which supports children with cancer.

7. Height

Manti Te'o's height was a significant factor in his success as a football player. At 6'2", Te'o was taller than most linebackers, which gave him an advantage in coverage. He was also able to use his height to his advantage in the running game, as he was able to shed blocks and make tackles more easily.

Coverage: Linebackers are often responsible for covering receivers in pass coverage. Te'o's height gave him an advantage in coverage, as he was able to stay with receivers and make plays on the ball.
Tackling: Te'o was a sure tackler, and his height helped him to make tackles more easily. He was able to shed blocks and make tackles on ball carriers of all sizes.
Leadership: Te'o was a leader on the Notre Dame defense, and his height helped him to command respect from his teammates. He was able to use his height to his advantage in the huddle and on the field.

Te'o's height was a major factor in his success as a football player. He was able to use his height to his advantage in both the passing and running game, and he was also able to use his height to command respect from his teammates.

8. Weight

Manti Te'o's weight of 255 lbs was a significant factor in his success as a football player. At 255 lbs, Te'o was heavier than most linebackers, which gave him an advantage in the running game. He was able to use his weight to shed blocks and make tackles more easily.

Tackling: Te'o was a sure tackler, and his weight helped him to make tackles more easily. He was able to shed blocks and make tackles on ball carriers of all sizes.
Run defense: Te'o was a key part of Notre Dame's run defense, and his weight helped him to stop opposing running backs. He was able to use his weight to anchor himself against the offensive line and make tackles in the backfield.
Leadership: Te'o was a leader on the Notre Dame defense, and his weight helped him to command respect from his teammates. He was able to use his weight to his advantage in the huddle and on the field.

Te'o's weight was a major factor in his success as a football player. He was able to use his weight to his advantage in both the passing and running game, and he was also able to use his weight to command respect from his teammates.

FAQs about Manti Te'o Draft

This section provides answers to frequently asked questions about Manti Te'o's NFL Draft experience.

Question 1: Why was Manti Te'o drafted in the second round?

Manti Te'o was projected to be a first-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, but he ultimately fell to the second round, where he was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the 38th overall pick. There were a few factors that may have contributed to his fall in the draft, including a catfishing scandal in which he was led to believe he was in a relationship with a woman who did not exist, as well as some injury concerns coming out of college.

Question 2: What were Manti Te'o's strengths as a linebacker?

Manti Te'o was a versatile linebacker who was able to make tackles, cover receivers, and rush the passer. He was a sure tackler, and he had a knack for making big hits. He was also a good coverage linebacker, and he was able to stay with receivers in man-to-man coverage. Additionally, Te'o was a leader on the Notre Dame defense, and he was able to motivate his teammates to play at a high level.

Question 3: What were Manti Te'o's weaknesses as a linebacker?

Manti Te'o was not a great pass rusher, and he was not as good at covering receivers in zone coverage as he was in man-to-man coverage. Additionally, Te'o had some injury concerns coming out of college, and he was not always able to stay healthy.

Question 4: What was Manti Te'o's NFL career like?

Manti Te'o's NFL career was not as successful as his college career. He was never able to live up to the high expectations that were placed on him, and he was released by the Chargers after four seasons. Te'o also played for the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears before retiring in 2017.

Question 5: What is Manti Te'o doing now?

Since retiring from the NFL, Manti Te'o has been working with the Manti Te'o Foundation, which supports children with cancer. He is also a motivational speaker, and he has spoken to audiences about his experiences in football and in life.

In conclusion, Manti Te'o was a highly touted linebacker coming out of college, but his NFL career was not as successful as his college career. However, he remains a popular figure, and he is known for his positive attitude and his work with the Manti Te'o Foundation.

For more information on Manti Te'o, please visit his website at www.mantiteo.com.

Conclusion

Manti Te'o's NFL Draft experience was a rollercoaster of emotions. He was projected to be a first-round pick, but he ultimately fell to the second round, where he was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the 38th overall pick. There were a few factors that may have contributed to his fall in the draft, including a catfishing scandal in which he was led to believe he was in a relationship with a woman who did not exist, as well as some injury concerns coming out of college.

Te'o's NFL career may not have been as successful as his college career, but he remains a popular figure. He is known for his positive attitude and his work with the Manti Te'o Foundation, which supports children with cancer. He is also a motivational speaker, and he has spoken to audiences about his experiences in football and in life.

Manti Te'o's story is a reminder that even the most talented athletes can face challenges. However, it is also a reminder that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.