McCarron: Te'o is the heart, soul of Notre Dame

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - If Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron and Offensive Coordinator Doug Nussmeier plan to move the ball against the Notre Dame defense, they’ll have to know where Manti Te'o is at all times.  Te'o is the field general commanding the greatest army of defenders in the NCAA.

Te'o was a Heisman finalist and is widely considered the best defensive player in the college game. 

In other words, for Nuss, he’s a headache.

“[Te’o] always seems to find the ball, as do all great players on defense," Nussmeier said.  "You look at the interceptions, the tackles; he always seems to be around the ball.  He has great natural instincts; obviously, he’s a phenomenal athlete.  It’s going to be very important that we know where he is at all times.”

“[Te’o] is a great player who makes a lot of plays for his defense, and he’s the heart and soul for them," said McCarron.  "He’s going to be a big key to the game, like always.”

For Te'o, this is exactly where he wants to be, playing for an esteemed program like Notre Dame against an equally storied Bama team.

Some shy from the spotlight.  Teo welcomes it, and understands the obligation that comes with putting on an Irish uniform.

“The aura of [Notre Dame], you walk through that locker room, and movies are made about that locker room, and movies are made about that stadium.  For me to run out of that stadium for the first time, and to run out of it for the last time, for it to be in a brighter spot than what it was the first time.  That’s definitely a big accomplishment not only for myself, but for the rest of the seniors and our team," Te'o said.

To be the best you have to beat the best, and there’s no one more worthy than Manti Te'o to try to stop the tide from 'rolling' in the national championship.