This weekend the Huskers hosted several top 2023 and 2024 prospects for the matchup with Northwestern. One prospect has been a mainstay on the sidelines for Nebraska. Lincoln Southeast defender Teitum Tuioti. He was back at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, coming away very impressed with what he saw.
#GBR 🤔 https://t.co/3E3akUoULA
— Teitum Tuioti (@TeitumT) October 3, 2021
“I just thought that the players played with more energy,” Tuioti said. “I’m guessing that it was because it was a night game which was their first night game this season. I just saw when the players ran out they were all just excited to play this one, but I thought they all did great. It was really fun to just watch it and see them go out and just beatdown Northwestern.”
Tuioti has a unique viewpoint of the Husker program. His dad, Tony, is the Nebraska defensive line coach. Teitum knew that the Huskers went into the game with a great game plan. He’s seen his dad and the staff putting in a lot of work that paid off during this game. Teitum believes it will carry through the rest of the season.
Teitum had a lot of fun being back in Memorial Stadium this weekend. He was able to reconnect with old friends Dylan Raiola, Tausili Akana and Ka’eo Akana on the trip. Catching up with them was a highlight of the day. He had just dropped Akana off at the Husker volleyball game when I spoke to him. Tausili’s sister, Keonilei Akana, is on the team. That group has talked about playing together for the Huskers.
Teitum also made sure that his current teammate, Gunnar Gottula, and Elkhorn South 2023 defender Maverick Noonan felt included in the group. It really helped promote the family atmosphere for the game.
“I know that even Gunnar [Gottula] last night he got to know Tausili [Akana] really well because he was sitting with him the whole game and Maverick got to meet him. I think they are just a great group of guys. I think that it could work really well if all of us just ended up going to Nebraska.”
Teitum has been to every home game for Nebraska this season, and he’s well aware of what the school has to offer. When he visits he likes to see how the crowd reacts to the players, especially coming out for the tunnel walk. Before the game, he enjoys talking Xs and Os with the coaching staff about the game plan for that week. He spent a lot of time with outside linebackers coach Mike Dawson this weekend. The Huskers see him as an outside linebacker in their system.
Every prospect’s recruiting process is unique. Yet, Teitum has the chance to get guided by a college coach at home. The Huskers’ defensive line coach is just dad when it comes to giving his son advice on the process.
“He is going through this as a father, so he just he just kind of talks to me,” Teitum said. “He says that we should look for a school that had great education first of all, because his family moved around when he was young. My grandparents moved from Samoa to Hawaii so that we can live a better lifestyle and just get a good education. We’re looking for a place that has really good education and also a program that is welcoming and that wants me as a recruit and as a person.”
Teitum has also maintained contact with Washington and Cal through the recruiting process. He thinks that they are all doing a great job of recruiting him so it will be tough to pick one. He hopes to make a college choice next spring or summer.
Greg is the Recruiting Analyst for Hail Varsity and has covered Husker athletics since 2013. He has always had a passion for sports while growing up in the Chicago area. As he got older and had to hang up his cleats and sneakers, he realized his passion for sports went beyond just watching and attending games. He has covered many events from the Rose Bowl to championship boxing matches. If he’s not talking sports, he’s hovering over his grill. He is married to an amazing woman, Kim, and they have a dog that barks when Greg yells at the TV during games.
