Manti Te'o has said that he hopes to be judged on his on-field ability at the NFL scouting combine ahead of the 2013 draft.

The Notre Dame linebacker, who is hoping to be drafted by an NFL team later this year, made the headlines last month when it was revealed that his dead girlfriend was not real, and that he appeared to have been the victim of a catfish scam.

The 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist told USA Today: "I have to just go out there and perform and all that other stuff is behind me.

"What I did on the field is what I did on the field. I don't think what I did with this whole situation, I don't understand how it takes away from what I did on the field.

"As far as my stock dropping or rising, that's not up to me. The only thing I have to do is just do well, run fast, just be myself, be quick."

Many analysts have predicted that Te'o will be a first-round draft pick.