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Tennessee football: 10 Vols 2019 true freshmen most likely to play early

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: A view of the outside of Neyland Stadium before a game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: A view of the outside of Neyland Stadium before a game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images) /
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Darrin Kirkland Jr.’s forced retirement due to injury leaves a major opening for another inside linebacker to start alongside Daniel Bituli, the star at that position. Sure, guys like Solon Page III, Shanon Reid, J.J. Peterson and Will Ignont are all in that group.

But Tennessee football could turn to a freshman. One who has a ton of potential is Henry To’oto’o, a guy Jeremy Pruitt surprisingly got on the last day of the 2019 recruiting season to commit to the Vols from the West Coast.

To’oto’o was not there in the spring, but the four-star linebacker is the perfect fit for Pruitt’s system. His arrival should immediately spell competition for everybody else, and even if he doesn’t become a starter, he’s got as great of a chance as anybody to be in the rotation. After all, he’s one of the few guys on this unit actually recruited by Pruitt.

Given his size, he’s one of the few guys who also has the potential to fulfill Pruitt’s desire of having linebackers who can play all four spots. Currently, Bituli is the only proven guy on that front. But To’oto’o is one of the few guys who may make it into that category along with Peterson and the next guy on this list.

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