Tennessee football: 10 bold predictions for Vols 2020 spring practice

10. Henry To’o To’o will become the vocal leader on defense.

With Daniel Bituli and Nigel Warrior both gone, Tennessee football needs somebody else to step up and be the glue guy on defense. Henry To’o To’o is that guy. We already saw signs of that down the stretch of last year, particularly in the Vols’ comeback win to beat the Indiana Hoosiers in the Gator Bowl, and it will be on full display in the spring.

Early in the year, when Bituli was out due to injury, To’o To’o stepped in and called the plays as a true freshman. It didn’t work out so well and had a lot to do with the Vols being unable to stop the Georgia State Panthers. In fact, it also cost them on a couple of key plays in their loss to the BYU Cougars. However, as the season progressed, To’o To’o developed.

Now, this defense is his to run. He’s the one proven inside linebacker, and he is in prime position to take a major step forward this year. Expectations are for him to become a breakout superstar once the season begins, and that will all start with him proving himself during spring ball.

With Brian Niedermeyer now leading his unit, he will emerge as the top guy among all the linebackers. Bituli and Darrell Taylor being gone combined with Quavaris Crouch being out will make that even more evident. To’o To’o is really the only guy who has the chance to stand out among all the linebackers, and that’s going to be clear throughout the spring.