4-star LB Niuafe Tuihalamaka releases top 5 schools

The Texas Longhorns are still in contention for Mission Hills (Calif.) Bishop Alemany linebacker Niuafe Tuihalamaka after the 6’1.5, 238-pounder released his list of top five schools on Monday.

Arizona State, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Stanford are the other finalists as Tuihalamaka narrowed his list from nearly 20 offers. The previous staff originally offered the consensus four-star prospect last September and new head coach Steve Sarkisian and linebackers coach Jeff Choate continued the pursuit.

Tuihalamaka originally committed to USC in February of 2020, but reopened his recruitment in late January, two days after receiving an offer from Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish currently hold two 247Sports Crystal Ball projections.

Ranked as the No. 68 player nationally and the No. three inside linebacker, Tuihalamaka is an effective blitzer at linebacker, but since he didn’t run well at a regional camp for The Opening two years ago — 5.06 40-yard dash — and is already on the big side for an inside linebacker, it’s possible that he grows into an edge player.