Punahou's Robert Toma, The Advertiser Offensive Co-Player of the Year, said last night he will fax his signed national letter of intent today to play football at Notre Dame.

It happens two days after the 5-foot-10, 170-pound receiver surprised the state — and probably UCLA, to which he had originally verbally committed — when he did not sign the Bruins' letter at Wednesday's mass signing day ceremony at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall.

"That Notre Dame offer was something I just couldn't pass up," Toma said. "It's a great opportunity."

The commitment also extends Toma's long-time football relationship with childhood friend and classmate Manti Te'o, the Defensive Player of the Year on the state and national levels who signed with the Fighting Irish at Wednesday's ceremony.

"Not a lot of people can say they played with their good friend from Pop Warner to high school and now at the collegiate level," Toma said.

Toma had verbally committed to UCLA in October. He said Notre Dame made him an offer about a month ago.

"I just didn't tell anybody because I didn't want anybody to freak out," Toma said. "I didn't make up my mind until (Wednesday). That's why I didn't sign. I needed time to think."

He has not taken a recruiting trip to Notre Dame, but said he still is allowed to and will probably do it after Punahou's basketball season.

Toma's non-signing Wednesday drew interest from blogs related to Notre Dame, UCLA and Southern California, the three schools on Te'o's final list.

"Inside USC," a Southern California football blog by Scott Wolf, reported, "This coincides with what we've heard from various sources that said UCLA and Toma had an unpleasant conversation after Te'o informed (UCLA) Monday night he would not come to Westwood."

"It was fine," Toma said when asked whether UCLA was upset. "It was my decision. UCLA was doing everything right. It was just me."

Until Notre Dame's offer, Toma said he had no other offers after he verbally committed to UCLA. But when word got out that Toma did not sign Wednesday, the University of Hawai'i also offered Toma.

"I love Coach Mack (UH coach Greg McMackin) and I love what he has going on at UH, but thought, for myself, I just needed to go out and explore," Toma said.