Ex-Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o prepares hard for combine

Bradenton, FL, United States (4E Sports) – Former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o has been preparing hard for the NFL scouting combine as he tries to put behind the controversy that sidetracked his attention from football.

According to several people monitoring the linebacker’s preparation, Te’o has shown no signs of being distracted by national media attention due to his hoax online girlfriend.

“He missed precisely one day,” said former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke, the director of football operations at IMG Academy where Te’o has been preparing for the combine that will start Wednesday in Indianapolis.

“He’s gone about his business and been the same guy all along,” Weinke said. “I really admire that because a lot of guys his age would not be able to handle this as well as he has. I haven’t seen any signs of it being a distraction and I expect him to go up to Indianapolis and have a great combine.”

Te’o missed one day of practice when he did the Katie Couric interview where he revealed that he was a victim of a hoax in which he developed an online relationship with a woman who did not exist.

“Manti has been the same Manti I went to college with,” said former Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert, who also has been working out at IMG.

“He’s been out on the field working just like he’s always worked. I’ve tried to be there for him, but I don’t know that he’s needed all that much help because he’s such a strong person to begin with,” Eifert said.

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