FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – Linebacker Lofa Tatupu believed in his ability to play big-time football when few others did.

Now, as the leading tackler for No. 1 Southern California the past two seasons, he’s getting the last laugh on several schools who rejected him when he was a high school senior in Wrentham, Mass.

“You name it, I heard it,” Tatupu recalled Saturday.

Connecticut wasn’t interested.

Boston College told him he didn’t have the size or speed to play there.

Massachusetts encouraged him to walk on, but wouldn’t offer a scholarship.

So Tatupu went to Division I-AA Maine.

“I had one school that believed in me,” he said. “I decided to give it a chance. It worked out.”

Tatupu was Maine’s second-leading tackler as a 205-pound freshman, and got an opportunity to show UMass what it was missing.

“I beat them up pretty good,” he said. “I had 10 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.”

The son of former USC fullback Mosi Tatupu decided after his freshman year he was going to make another try at finding a major school.

“It was my dream to play Division I-A,” he said.

Tatupu played for his father at King Philip Regional High. He decided he wanted to find a school near his mother, who lives outside of San Diego.

Tatupu targeted San Diego State. It didn’t work out.

“San Diego State wouldn’t give me a scholarship. USC did,” Tatupu said. “I didn’t think USC would give me a shot. We sent them the tape, they gave me a shot. Thank you, Coach Carroll.”

Pete Carroll received three game films from Tatupu’s father and checked them out.

“He’s all over the field, knocking balls down, making plays,” Carroll said. “It was obvious he was a great playmaker.”

Carroll spoke to Mosi Tatupu about his son.

“That was a blood and guts guy – a blue collar player his whole career,” Carroll said of the elder Tatupu. “This was not a slam-dunk deal at the time at all. At the time, we were scrambling for some guys.”

Tatupu got his scholarship, redshirted in 2002 as required, and became a first-stringer before the 2003 season.

“I’ve lived in his shadow my whole life,” Tatupu said of his father. “I really was kind of leery about coming here – I was looking at other places. I’m my own man, just like he is.”

Mosi played on USC’s national championship team in 1974. Lofa gave his national championship ring to his father last year, and will have a chance to earn another Tuesday night when the Trojans meet No. 2 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

Tatupu said he usually speaks to his father on Sundays.

“He helps me out a lot – he watches the film. He told me I need to catch the ball better,” Tatupu said, laughing. “All those deflections – only three interceptions.

“I think I’ve done all right. I continue to push hard. I’m very proud of what he did. It helped me become better.”

Tatupu said he sees his father’s picture all the time – along with the rest of the 1974 national championship team.

“Right outside my meeting room – the locker room, too” Tatupu said. “I see him in the front with his big Afro.”

Fellow USC linebacker Matt Grootegood, a first-team All-American, said he’s never seen anybody with Tatupu’s instincts.

“He’s the guy who’s the quarterback of our defense, he has the smarts,” Grootegood said. “He’s the guy to make the pick, force the fumble. He’s the playmaker of our defense.”

Tatupu has filled out to 225 pounds, and is considered a good NFL prospect – so good it’s been reported he’s considering passing up his final year of eligibility at USC to make himself available for the draft.

When asked about the NFL, Tatupu replied: “Some day, hopefully, I’d like to play there.”

Then he smiled, refusing to elaborate.