Brian Kelly Impressing 2021 ATH Titus Mokiao-Atimalala

2021 James Campbell (Hawaii) receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala‍ is always working and if he isn't working, the 6-foot-1, 170-pounder is in contact with college coaches.  

Notre Dame is one of the schools hitting him up the most and that includes head coach Brian Kelly.

"It's been going great," Mokiao-Atimalala stated. "Coach Brian Polian and Coach Brian Kelly have been texting me every week. They check up on me and send me pictures of Notre Dame. It's a beautiful campus." 

It's common to have one coach in contact, but the effort of two coaches isn't lost on the Hawaii native.

"It just shows how much they really want me," explained Mokiao-Atimalala. "I really appreciate the love they show me and my family. 

"I even gave them my parents number. They send my parents pictures and stuff." 

Kelly's presence in his recruitment has more than impressed Mokiao-Atimalala.

"Coach Kelly and I talked before the Super Bowl," said Mokiao-Atimalala. "He was asking me who I was cheering for and he also joked that it could be me out there one day, but I just had to come to Notre Dame." 

Mokiao-Atimalala also hears from Chip Kelly, Scott Frost and Kyle Whittingham.

The attention is something Mokiao-Atimalala has worked for, but in the present, he has to pinch himself sometimes.

"I have been working for this since I was younger and we expected this to happen," explained Mokiao-Atimalala. "Having it actually happen is kind of overwhelming. It's also cool to text a coach from this school or that school.

"All my teammates kind of flip out about it." 

Mokiao-Atimalala is listed as an athlete by most services because of his ability to play both sides of the ball, but his heart is at receiver. 

"A lot of schools are recruiting me as a receiver," Mokiao-Atimalala said. "If it's not as a receiver, they put me down as an athlete because some believe I could play both sides of the ball. 

"Some schools have said if I go there and end up wanting to play defensive back, it would be up to me. It's cool to have that decision, but for me, I'm set on being a receiver and focusing on maximizing my craft at receiver." 

When it comes to visits, Mokiao-Atimalala will get out on the road this spring and Notre Dame will get an official visit. 

"I have a couple camps in March and they're in LA or Northern California," stated Mokiao-Atimalala. "I'm going to check out some of the West Coast schools with my parents. 

"Coach Kelly asked me if I can't do an unofficial visit, then we need to set up an official visit. I'm glad they're working with my family. I want to take my official visit in April or May, so I can meet the coaches and see the campus. It'd be cool to check out their spring ball game." 

On his visits, Mokiao-Atimalala simply wants to get a feel for life off the island and find a place he's comfortable. 

"I just want to get a feel for what it's like to be out on the mainland," said Mokiao-Atimalala. "I'm going to be spending my next four or five years there, so I want to be comfortable where I'm at and that my family feels I'm safe where I'm at. 

"I want to see the Business programs because I want to be an entrepreneur in the future. I want to continue building a great relationship with the coaches, so I know I can trust them and my family can trust them."