Time has been good to Manti Te'o, who becomes less of a spectacle with each day that takes him further from the hoax heard 'round the world.
The biggest curiosity surrounding Te'o no longer is Lennay Kekau. It's about football, and whether the Notre Dame star can translate his skills into success at the next level.
Te'o was featured in the latest episode of the Steve Mariucci-hosted "Game Changers," which aired Tuesday on NFL Network. We watched it. Here are some takeaways:
» Te'o said he has thick skin, which has helped him handle the adversity. Asked if he's prepared for the inevitable teasing from future teammates, Te'o said, "I don't know specifically what they're going to do, but I know something's coming."
» During a workout session with USC's Matt Barkley and Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert, there's a mention of an imaginary receiver. This prompts Te'o to intone, "I'm good at imaginary stuff, you know?" Asked by Mariucci to repeat himself, Te'o replied, "Nothing."
» Te'o called the NFL Scouting Combine "exciting." Does this guy look excited to you?
» Asked why he was an every-down linebacker, Te'o heaped heavy praise on a teammate: "Tyler Eifert is the best tight end/receiver in college football entering this NFL draft right now. Having to guard him every single day definitely got me better."
» Mariucci sat down with Te'o to watch tape from Notre Dame's blowout loss to Alabama in the BCS Championship Game. Te'o played poorly in the game, and the tape provided grisly proof. He told Mariucci he "wasn't himself" that night. Asked to elaborate, Te'o said he tried to do too much once Notre Dame fell behind early.
» For what's it worth, Mariucci left his visit with Te'o extremely impressed: "We all got a certain impression toward the end of his senior year, the Alabama game, the girlfriend scam and the combine. But after spending a full day with him at the IMG Academy, I'm sold on this guy."
Are you?
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
