Punahou School senior linebacker/running back Manti Te'o said today that he has narrowed his college choices to five schools, and the University of Hawaii is not one of them.

Te'o, who is being recruited at linebacker, said he pared his choices to USC, UCLA, Stanford, Notre Dame and Brigham Young.

USC coach Pete Carroll reportedly was prepared to give Te'o jersey No. 55, which carries a legacy of top Trojan linebackers, including Junior Seau, Willie McGinest, Chris Claiborne and Keith Rivers.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder from Hau'ula said on a radio interview today that he is headed on a recruiting trip to UCLA tonight. Punahou does not play this week.

Te'o is the highest-ranking Hawaii recruit. He is ranked No. 5 overall by rivals.com and No. 6 overall by ESPNU's top 150.

College athletes can make nonbinding verbal commitments to a school. The first day football players can sign binding national letters of intent is in February.