![Alabama linebacker Henry To’o To’o (10) enjoys the victory after the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal game at the 86th Cotton Bowl in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Alabama defeated Cincinnati 27-6 to advance to the national championship game. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]College Football Playoffs Alabama Vs CincinnatiSyndication Tuscaloosa News](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/c86429ada14ec0564e01f7b7a20f535eed0c8d8c9826085245bb58d5bcaeff92.jpg "Alabama linebacker Henry To’o To’o (10) enjoys the victory after the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal game at the 86th Cotton Bowl in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Alabama defeated Cincinnati 27-6 to advance to the national championship game. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]College Football Playoffs Alabama Vs CincinnatiSyndication Tuscaloosa News")
8.5 TFLs; 4 sacks; 2 PDs; 1 FF; 113 tackles (53 solo)
- Junior
- 6’2″ 228 pounds
- Entered portal Jan. 20, 2021
Joining the group of elite prospects to hit the transfer portal between Jeremy Pruitt’s firing and Josh Heupel’s hiring, none hurt worse for Tennessee football than Henry To’o To’o. He was the Vols’ leading tackler his freshman and sophomore years with them, and with him and Quavaris Crouch gone, UT was wrecked at linebacker.
To’o To’o joined the Alabama Crimson Tide with three years of eligibility left, and it made sense for him to join them. Similar to Crouch, To’o To’o was joining the same defensive scheme that he played for under Pruitt. They’re all connected, as Pruitt worked under Kirby Smart and Nick Saban, and Mel Tucker worked under Smart.
Anyway, in his new role, To’o To’o immediately became the top producer for Alabama on defense. He surpassed his production at UT both years in every category except interceptions since he had a pick-six in 2020. Meanwhile, he led the Tide in total tackles.
Obviously, Will Anderson Jr.s’ play was going to take shine away from To’o To’o since he dominated in so many areas at linebacker, but To’o To’o was still a huge pickup for Bama. No former Vol who left and played for a different team this past year had a more standout performance. There’s a reason To’o To’o earned All-SEC honors.
Also, without To’o To’o and Crouch, Tennessee football had major issues at linebacker. It didn’t help that Juwan Mitchell was lost for the year while William Mohan and Aaron Willis were still developing, and the transfers of Martavius French and J.J. Peterson made it worse. This put tons of pressure on Jeremy Banks, Aaron Beasley and Solon Page III, but none were To’o To’o.