The accolades keep coming for Punahou senior Manti Te'o.

The 2007 Advertiser all-state linebacker and the top linebacker recruit in the country was named 2008-09 Gatorade Hawaii Football Player of the Year, the company and ESPN/RISE Magazine announced today.

The award recognizes athletic performance, as well as academic achievement and co-curricular activities, the press release said. He is eligible for the National Gatorade Football Player of the Year award that will be announced later this month.

Te'o averages 10.1 tackles per game and has registered eight sacks and three interceptions. He also plays running back and receiver on offense. The release added he has a 3.02 grade point average. Described as a "devout Mormon," Te'o also is an Eagle Scout, volunteer with the Hawaii Food Bank, and a youth spokesman for the American Lung Association of Hawaii. He also completed a service project at Brigham Young-Hawai'i.

Besides preparing for tomorrow's Division I state football championship game against Leilehua, Te'o has been busy with recruiting. Notre Dame's Charlie Weis, BYU's Bronco Mendenhall and Stanford's Jim Harbaugh all made visits this week.