Manti Te‘o ’09’s presence looms large over the history of Punahou football. His arrival on the roster in the mid-2000s coincided with the emergence of the School’s athletic program on the national stage, and he was the linchpin of a talented team that won the Sons of O‘ahu’s first gridiron koa trophy.
Te‘o’s football prowess was instrumental in Punahou’s defense; his dominance at the linebacker position allowed the coaching staff to mix up alignments to leverage his strengths, and he was given the freedom to play instinctively, without restrictions. He also saw meaningful time at running back and on special teams.
In three seasons of varsity football, Te‘o won two State Defensive Player of the Year awards and two Gatorade Hawai‘i Player of the Year honors, and was inducted into the HHSAA Hall of Honor in 2009. As a senior he was presented with the inaugural Butkus Award as the nation’s best high school linebacker, The Sporting News High School Athlete of the Year Award, and the USA Today National Defensive Player of the Year honor.
Te‘o’s gridiron career at Punahou culminated with a buff ’n blue victory in the 2008 state title game against Leilehua, yielding the first state championship in the 118-year history of Punahou football. Te‘o finished the game with eight tackles, a forced fumble and a pass deflection.
Te‘o also excelled on the basketball court in two varsity seasons. As a junior, his hustle and intimidating defensive presence helped propel the buff ’n blue squad to the 2008 state championship, the first Punahou boys hoops title since 1999. He made the Star-Bulletin Fab 15 List and the Advertiser All-State second team.
Te‘o went on to have a stellar college football career at Notre Dame, winning a slew of awards, becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist and leading the team to the national championship game his senior year. Drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2013, he played for eight years in the NFL for three teams. Today, he is a TV broadcaster living in Southern California with his family.