AP

After entering the NFL as one of last year’s highest-profile rookies, Manti Te’o had a relatively quiet first season. But as the Chargers start Organized Team Activities, Te’o says he’s ready for a big year.

“The offseason was great,” Te’o told Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego. “Rookie year is possibly the hardest year. Everyone told me that it was. You go non-stop. It’s all football from your last game in college to preparing for the combine to preparing for the draft to getting drafted and then coming straight to rookie minicamp and going through the real thing. The offseason allowed me to just get some away time and get a jumpstart in my workouts. It was good.”

Te’o says he’s in better shape now than he was a year ago.

“I’m in the best shape of my life,” Te’o said. “The way I feel, the control I have over my body, I’m the same weight but physically I’m just different. Mentally, obviously, I have a year under my belt. I can build off of that.”

The Chargers’ defense was a major disappointment last season, but they’re still hoping Te’o is a building block for a much better defense this year.