Film Don't Lie | Ko'o Kia
Punahou has been very good to Notre Dame since they landed Mantio Te’o and Robby Toma all the way back in 2009. It stayed good to them with Marist Liufau and Kahanu Kia, who just returned to campus after a two-year mission.
They’re keeping it rolling with a commitment from Kahanu’s brother, Ko'o Kia, to their 2025 class. A versatile playmaker who racked up 28 havoc plays as a junior, I’m a huge fan of Kia as a prospect and think this is a big time addition to the class.
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 210
Projected Position: Vyper/Money backer
ISD Grade: 90 (4-star)
National Average Grade: 85.3 (3-star)
What he does best:
Kia has fantastic tools as a pass rusher. He’s twitchy with the ability to turn the corner.
His lateral agility and ability to redirect is special.
That makes him an incredibly difficult player to block and helps him make so many plays as a tackler.
He’s a fluid athlete who is comfortable in coverage. He had seven pass breakups as well as an interception that went for a pick-six.
Maybe the best part of his game is his motor. You don’t need to ask someone whether or not Ko’o loves football. Just show them this clip.
What he needs to improve:
There’s some nice flashes of him defeating blocks, but he can use his hands better and do a better job of using his length.
His best position might end up being Vyper and he has a lot of physical development to do to be able to hold up there.
What’s his ceiling?
I know with a lot of prospects the focus is on measurables and verified testing. Maybe that’s why these recruiting services continue to disrespect the players from Hawaii year and year. They aren’t getting the same exposure at camps as players from the mainland.
The film says more than enough about Kia as a prospect. He’s cut from the same cloth as his older brother Kahanu and former Notre Dame linebacker Marist Liufau. He shares the same traits as them on the football field.
I think Kia is athletic enough to play Will linebacker and I could see him playing that Money backer role that Liufau played this past season where he's a sub-package pass rusher. I could also see him being a full-time edge and the way he plays there reminds me of former Wisconsin edge Nick Herbig.
He was a relentless pass rusher and was highly productive. I think Kia has the potential to develop into that type of player as an upperclassmen at Notre Dame.
Who he could be:
Former Wisconsin edge Nick Herbig
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