Notre Dame football: Record-setting evening for Te'o

Whether or not Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o makes history Saturday night at the Heisman Trophy award presentation, he'll go down as the most decorated college football player to date.

Thursday night in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., the Laie, Hawaii, product picked up his fourth, fifth and record sixth national awards at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson, the 1997 Heisman Trophy winner, held the previous record of five.

Te'o's total could jump to as many as eight by Sunday night. Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel is expected to win the Heisman, college football's most-coveted individual award.

Te'o is one of three finalists for the Heisman and is also a finalist for the Lott Impact Trophy presented Sunday night in Newport Beach, Calif.

With his parents, Brian and Ottilia, by his side, Te'o won the Bednarik, Walter Camp and Maxwell awards Thursday night. He also was named first-team Academic All-America earlier in the day, as was teammate and offensive guard Mike Golic Jr.

Earlier in the week, Te'o won the Nagurski (top defensive player), Butkus (top linebacker) and Lombardi (top linebacker or offensive/defensive lineman).

Te'o became only the third defensive player to win the Walter Camp Award in its 46-year existence, joining Woodson and Pitt defensive end Hugh Green (1980). The Irish players had previously won the national Player of the Year award -- tight end Ken MacAfee in 1977, wide receiver/kick returner Tim Brown in 1987 and wide receiver/kick returner Rocket Ismail in 1990.

Te'o, the Maxwell's 76th winner, became the first defensive player to win it since Pitt's Green and he ended a string of nine straight quarterbacks taking home the honor. The previous five Maxwell Award winners from Notre Dame include two defensive players -- end Ross Browner (1977) and linebacker Jim Lynch (1966). The others were ND two-way star Leon Hart (1949), two-time winner at halfback John Lattner (1952-53) and quarterback Brady Quinn (2006).

Te'o is Notre Dame's first Bednarik Award winner, an honor given to the nation's top defensive player since 1995.

Source: http://www.southbendtribune.com/sports/notredame/football/sbt-notre-dame-football-recordsetting-evening-for-teo-20121206,0,2596432.story?track=rss

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