2023 NFL Draft Profile: Alabama Linebacker Henry To'oTo'o
Interior linebacker Henry To'oTo'o path to Tuscaloosa was an untraditional one as he first was a two-year starter at rival Tennessee, and then transferred.
From Rocky Top to Rammer Jammer? Sure, why not?
But To'oTo'o was also originally recruited from the West Coast. He's half-Samoan, half-Tingan (with seven siblings), who went from Sacramento to Utah before eventually heading to the Bay Area, where he was named the player of the year as a linebacker and running back at De La Salle High School. That led to Knoxville before finally joining Alabama football.
“We're talking about a fine young man who's very intelligent, very instinctive player, very conscientious,” Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said at the time. “He wants to know everything about not only what he does, but everybody on the defense. He's got really good leadership qualities.”
To'oTo'o filled an important hole in the Crimson Tide and bought the coaches a little time to regroup at the position where Alabama used to be known for continually landing top prospects and seeing them develop into contenders for the Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker).
As a senior he was named All-SEC by league coaches. Statistically, To'oTo'o was second on Alabama in tackles, and nine in the conference, by notching 94 total tackles, including eight for a loss and 2.5 sacks.
That was on top of a junior year, when he stepped into the middle of the defense and took over the play-calling responsibilities en route to landing second-team All-SEC honors. He topped the Crimson Tide with 113 tackless, including 8.5 for loss and four sacks, to go with a pair of quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Alabama Interior Linebacker Henry To'oTo'o
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