KISSIMMEE, Fla. — As a five-star recruit, the phone rarely stops ringing. Coaches from near and far want you to come play for them. That’s been the case for Maea Teuhema, a five-star offensive lineman committed to LSU.

“It got to the point that it was really annoying,” Teuhema said to SDS at Under Armour All-America practices last week. “Every day, coaches and media people are always hitting up my phone, and I’d have to go through that every day.”

The 6-foot-4.5, 340-pound Teuhema is about as solid as a commitment as LSU is going to get, having announced his intention to head to Baton Rouge nearly a year ago. While prospects flip from one school to another after months of commitment to one program, the No. 30 recruit in the nation, per 247sports’ composite rankings, has a greater pull to LSU than most: family.

The Keller, Tex. native will get the chance to suit up alongside his brother, Sione, come fall. The elder Teuhema brother was a freshman at LSU in 2014. He played in nine games and racked up 2.0 sacks and seven total tackles, finishing third on the team in sacks for the year. Sione’s presence in the Tigers’ locker room had a major impact on Maea.

“It was really big. Me and him really like playing together,” Teuhema said. “It’s awesome that we can do it in college.”

While Teuhema was in touch with a handful of coaches during his recruitment, including offensive line coach Jeff Grimes, defensive line coach Brick Haley and strength coach Steve Ensminger, Sione was his biggest recruiter. In fact, Maea had a hand in his brother deciding to attend LSU over Texas, where Sione originally committed before flipping to LSU, in the first place.

Once Sione settled on LSU, Maea decided that he would join him in the bayou to play in Tiger Stadium.

“They have great coaches,” Teuhema said of his and his brother’s choice of school. “The coaches showed us a great time out there and made us feel like we were home.”

Sione wasn’t the only player that drew Maea to play for the Tigers. Teuhema, who is a Polynesian American, has developed a relationship with current Tiger Fehoko Fanaika as well. Fanaika, who was primarily used as a reserve guard, played in all 13 games and started the first three contests of the season as a sophomore. While Fanaika will be gone next year after graduating, the relationship he and Maea developed played into Teuhema’s decision.

Teuhema believes he’ll fit right in with the Tigers offensive line. He described himself to SDS as a run-blocker first and foremost, which meshes with what LSU does best.

“They’re a running team, they have great running backs. I can’t wait to get up there and block for them,” Teuhema said.

He’s also looking forward to the coaching he’ll receive at LSU. Teuhema is well aware of LSU’s track record of sending players to the next level. He’s especially looking forward to playing for Grimes, who LSU’s current players have talked up to Teuhema.

“Coach Grimes is a great coach. Even the offensive linemen there, every time I go down there to hang out with my brother, they would always tell me he will tell you straight up what you need to do to get right and get ready for the league,” Teuhema said.

Teuhema is ready to roll for the Tigers, and he has been for some time now. He’s already a member of the family at LSU, all that awaits is his first game in purple and gold.