Transfer Spotlight – Alabama LB Henry To’o To’o
At CFB Saturdays we recognize that the landscape is always changing in College Football and the undeniable impact transfers have had on our beloved sport in recent history. Transfers have gone on to make College Football Playoff runs, win the Heisman, the National Championship, and become top NFL Draft Picks (Joe Burrow recently accomplished all of the above). In the Transfer Spotlight we take a look at the potential impact of top transfers in 2021. Today we take a look at Alabama LB Henry To’o To’o who was a tackle machine for Tennessee.
A Do It All Middle Linebacker
Henry To’o To’o was a top 50 recruit in Tennessee’s 2019 recruiting class. He quickly lived up to the billing, earning a starting spot as a true freshman and finishing second on the team in tackles. He became a leader for the defense and made a steady impact throughout the year. He finished the 2019 season with 72 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 2 pass breakups in 13 games. To’o To’o had become a contributor as a true freshman but was just scratching the surface of his ability.
In 2020, he started to make a bigger impact with big plays to go with the tackles. Tennessee played just ten games for the season, but To’o To’o made double digit tackles in three of them and had multiple tackles for loss in four of them. He had his best game of the season against Georgia, accounting for 11 tackles and 2 tackles for loss against the Bulldogs. Overall, To’o To’o finished the 2020 season with 76 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2 pass breakups and 1 interception which he returned for touchdown.
As a team Tennessee struggled during the 2020 season and finished just 3 – 7 after a solid 8 – 5 2019 campaign. In January the University announced they were parting ways with Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt for cause. With a coaching change upcoming and troubling news around the program many players decided to transfer out of the program and find a new school to finish their careers. To’o To’o added his name to the list and will transfer to Alabama.
Henry To’o To’o’s Talent
Henry To’o To’o has a good frame for a linebacker and checks in at 6’2″ 225 lbs. He is an intelligent player who has a good feel for the game and regularly puts himself in good position to make plays. His instincts are on display against the run, where he diagnoses the play quickly and beats blockers to the punch and against the pass where he can disrupt the short and intermediate passing game. To’o To’o finds the football with incredible consistency allowing him to make a lot of plays.
He is not a top tier athlete at the linebacker position, but has above average athleticism for the position. He has enough speed and quickness to play in coverage and understands his responsibilities in the scheme. To’o To’o is able to sift through traffic and get in the backfield to make negative plays against the offense. He does a good job of shedding blocks and pursuing the football to make the play. He is a complete linebacker who is an asset to the defense.
Outlook at Alabama
Alabama is coming off a championship season, but will need to replace plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. The good news is that Nick Saban recruits better than anyone in the country and has plenty of talented players waiting to step into the vacated starting spots. Talent is good, but experienced talent is better and that’s what the Crimson Tide are adding with To’o To’o.
To’o To’o is a proven player in the conference who will step in and be an immediate starter for Alabama. He will be able to lead a young and talented linebacker group into the 2021 season. He is a smart player who has a good feel for the game and will be a steadying force in the middle of the defense. His presence will buy time for the younger players to adjust to their new roles early in the season.
Alabama’s offense is undergoing more turnover than the defense and may need a few games to find their rhythm. With a new quarterback, two new receivers a new running back, a new left tackle and a new center, there will likely be a few growing pains along the way. To’o To’o’s addition on defense will help strengthen the defense and keep the pressure off the offense early in the season.
Alabama has plenty of talent on the roster and did not need to add another linebacker, but picking up a talented player with experience in the conference is a bonus Nick Saban will gladly take. Alabama is reloading on both sides of the ball and getting a head start at one of the spots will only help. The SEC is never easy to win, but Alabama added a key piece to help them repeat as conference champions in 2021.
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