During his time in Knoxville Toles transitioned from fullback to linebacker and he took to his new position. In 1983 he led the Volunteers in tackles with 135 and had eight tackles for a loss. Toles missed much of the 1984 season after suffering a broken ankle against Auburn.
After his successful college career, Toles was one of two Tennessee linebackers taken in the first two rounds of the 1985 NFL Draft. Carl Zander was taken in the second round but had a much better career than Toles.
The highlight of Toles’s career was in 1987 when he returned a block punt for a touchdown against San Francisco. He primarily played on special teams throughout his four year career in New Orleans. He did start 15 of 16 games in 1986, but never started on defense for the Saints after that year and was out of the league after 1988.