I am all for this young man deciding to come to BYU, but it’s time to look at this objectively just to make sure we aren’t jumping down this young man’s throat. 

He has narrowed his list down to 5 school: BYU, USC, UCLA and Stanford.  Let’s all look at each school, what they have to offer and let’s come to a sensible decision. 

1. UCLA- Norm Chow has a huge connection to Punahou and also shares the same LDS beliefs.  Yet he is a defensive player and won’t be around Chow.  He’ll be spending the majority of his time in defensive meeting with Mr. Walker and company.  UCLA is a school with a bright future.  They have good coaches in place and could potentially be very successful in the next 2-3 years.  Does he want to struggle through some hard sessions and tough losses before he finally plays for a team that can produce enough wins to again be in the hunt for a Pac-10 victory?  At UCLA he’ll get plenty of playing time, and could work himself into the starting line-up as a freshman.  His future could be bright at UCLA…
2. USC- I think this would be the worst place for him to go.  They are constantly getting the blue chip linebacker gem each year. That means there will be very stiff competition and if he’s injured or struggles for even one season, that maybe the only shot he gets. Great players don’t like riding the pine. If you’re a rising star, and want to come into a big school, and make an immediate impact, then this would not be the place to try it. Pete will shake your hand and know your name today and then its off to Texas or New Jersey to find the player that will take your position. Yet, they win so many gosh darn titles, and they are always going to the BCS games and those are the games young up and coming stars want to play in. The wins and stars on the sideline can be very enticing, but when push come to shove, it should come down to playing time. What kind of depth do they currently have, and will Te’o be able to contribute right away?  It would also be prudent to think about the “serving a mission” problem.  By the time you get back from your mission Pete will have had two top 5 recruiting classes come in.  After two years away from the game it could be hard not to get caught up in the mix.
3. Stanford- This is also a very intelligent choice. They have a great academic institution and when he graduates, he can very well punch his ticket wherever he wants. The football program is another story. They are consistently towards the bottom of the conference looking up towards the top. They do have a coach with a successful football past, but I have a feeling he is using the Stanford job as a spring board to another BCS program. He will take a few years build Stanford into a “success” and then he will hit the skids for wherever. A head coaching change means a whole new staff, new systems, new philosophies, everything will change. This change could be right in the middle of Te’o’s college career, which could be tough to overcome. 
4. Notre Dame- This is also a great program with more tradition than any college football team in the country. Their fans are great, the school is great, it is many kids’ dream to play for the Fighting Irish. Yet, just like USC, they have been among the top recruiting classes the past few years. This means they will constantly be chasing the next best thing.  Their team is currently going through some growing pains and they are gaining experience.  Anyone that has seen them play knows they are not very good.  Their coaching staff in under a lot of pressure to win and that means if Te’o doesn’t produce as a player, he’s out.  It is also far away from family and friends, the people who have been his support system throughout his life.  Indiana’s cool (to see once) but there certainly are better places in the world to matriculate. 
5. BYU- Obviously, this one is close to my heart.  They have a great academic repuation that’s gaining more and more national prominence, they are sponsored by the LDS church, and they  are a team that’s won its last 13 games.  The linebacking core is young and doesn’t have a lot of depth.  The middle linebacker spot at BYU is the position that the defense is designed around and that player is expected to lead the team in tackles and sacks. (Cameron Jensen/Kelly Poppinga)  BYU is showing that from year to year, they will be a nationally recognized team and they’re doing better on NFL draft day.  Te’o already has family on the team and won’t have any adjustment to living or hanging out with people with conflicting beliefs and values.  BYU’s team will be returning a lot of players next year and they will again have BCS potential.  With BYU, there will be less surprises, the coaches will be honest and upfront about his future.  It is a very intriguing choice.

In all honesty, there isn’t a bad choice among the bunch.  They are all strong academically and athletically.  It should come down to where he feels most comfortable, both with the coaching staff and the players he’ll be around 24-7 for four or five years.  No matter where he goes there will be great people that will want him to succeed.  From what people are saying about this kid, he has a very bright future.  There are positives and negatives to any one of these schools.  I just hope he makes the best choice for his future, whether that be in the NFL or behind a desk.  It would be disappointing to see BYU lose out, but remember there are always blue skies.  Good luck, Manti, and enjoy it, it is a very exciting year of your life.  Once you sign your name you become somewhat faceless again.  It’s back to being a freshmen, shaved head, pranks and jokes (you got to love the college experience).

Final tip: I would say your best two choices are BYU and UCLA.  Enjoy your official visits to each of the 5 campuses, you will learn a lot about each team.