'19 CA LB Henry To'oto'o (Tennessee Signee)

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901LookAlive said:
You let the stud pick his jersey always. Program changing linebacker, book it.
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Since I've been following the Vols, there have only been like, four notable LBs... only one I'd say was up to the premium standard: Jerod Mayo. The only other notables are AJ Johnson, Curt Maggitt, and JRM, but each had their limitations.
 
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ChismsHeadband said:
Since I've been following the Vols, there have only been like, four notable LBs... only one I'd say was up to the premium standard: Jerod Mayo. The only other notables are AJ Johnson, Curt Maggitt, and JRM, but each had their limitations.
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This kid has it all. He broke his foot and still laid it all on the line for his brothers. We will be talking about wanting another Toot once he's gone. You hear him say how the days of us getting boat raced are over. We need that mentality in this program.
 
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Ron Swanson said:
It's exciting to think about the talent that's being assembled on the defense. Guys like Thompson, Taylor, Burrell, Fields, McCollough, Harrison, JJP, Crouch, To'oTo'o, Simmons, Solomon, Williams...Looking forward to seeing these guys get coached and developed by our staff. Really need to add some stud DL in this upcoming class and the future is bright on defense for sure.
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yep. hate that it's all so young....but....i think while there may be some growing pains this year, it's set up to to have a really, really solid core for the next 2-3 years at least.
 
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901LookAlive said:
This kid has it all. He broke his foot and still laid it all on the line for his brothers. We will be talking about wanting another Toot once he's gone. You hear him say how the days of us getting boat raced are over. We need that mentality in this program.
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For the next three hours, the four of them sat in the dark. Pruitt showed the To’oto’os film from Alabama, explaining how his defense worked and how he could use Henry within it.

At Tennessee, To’oto’o would mostly play weak-side inside linebacker, with a chance to play some Mike linebacker. Pruitt needled To’oto’o with questions along the way, feeling out the five-star linebacker’s football IQ.

Eventually, Tennessee’s staff told To’oto’o he’d have a chance to start as a true freshman.
Pruitt’s eyebrows were raised when To’oto’o picked up concepts as quickly as Pruitt could teach them. He moved on to some film cutups of Tennessee’s spring practice, explaining the differences between what the Tide could run with their personnel versus the brand of 3-4 defense Tennessee would be playing.
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To’oto’o and his father had never met Pruitt before that weekend. Pruitt saw a player he could teach concepts to and explain how he could fit. So he did exactly that.

“This guy is wired up like a scientist,” Iese To’oto’o said.

Pruitt also took aim at Henry To’oto’o’s own tape. He offered a frank assessment:
To’oto’o’s aggressiveness and ability jumped off the screen. But, often, he’d read an opposing offense and pause. He’d overthink instead of reacting. He had to improve there, along with a few minor technique tweaks Pruitt pointed out.

“He already had started teaching my son,” Iese To’oto’o said. “And we haven’t even talked about commitment.”
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The Vols had camp at 7 the next morning. When the clock struck midnight, Simon alerted his head coach.

“(Pruitt) was like, ‘Well, man, I could keep going,’” Iese To’oto’o said.

One thing was clear as the To’oto’os returned to their hotel. Iese turned to his son and laughed.

“Man, that was crazy,” he said. “You’d fit in well here.”

For the first time, Tennessee had a real chance to be Henry To’oto’o’s new home.
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—Ubben

Clips out of a long, great article.
If you don’t have an Athletic subscription, you’re missing.
 
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ChismsHeadband said:
Since I've been following the Vols, there have only been like, four notable LBs... only one I'd say was up to the premium standard: Jerod Mayo. The only other notables are AJ Johnson, Curt Maggitt, and JRM, but each had their limitations.
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Al Wilson says "hi". If you weren't following the Vols when he was here you truly missed out. If you were and omitted him in your list, God help you.
 
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