Former Vols LB Henry To'o To'o gets real about his decision to leave Tennessee
There aren't many players who have seen both sides of the rivalry between the Tennessee Vols and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Linebacker Henry To'o To'o is among that small group of players, which also includes former Vols running back Alvin Kamara (Kamara had one redshirt season at Bama). To'o To'o spent the first two years […]
There aren't many players who have seen both sides of the rivalry between the Tennessee Vols and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Linebacker Henry To'o To'o is among that small group of players, which also includes former Vols running back Alvin Kamara (Kamara had one redshirt season at Bama).
To'o To'o spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Tennessee before transferring to Alabama after Jeremy Pruitt was fired as the Vols' head coach.
To'o To'o recently sat down with AL.com to discuss his experience playing college football as he prepares for the 2023 NFL Draft. Unsurprisingly, the topic of To'o To'o's transfer from Tennessee to Alabama came up. And To'o To'o gave his most extensive comments yet on his decision to transfer.
"There was just so much stuff going on at Tennessee, it just wasn't healthy for me," said To'o To'o. "I don't think it was that my coach (Pruitt) was leaving, but it was just so much turmoil going on there, so much uncertainty. And I didn't know who the new defensive coach was coming in."
"I don't know who else is going to be here, I don't know who the coach is going to be," continued To'o To'o. "And I was like, Yeah, I think the portal is the best thing for me."
"Kids are so young. Like we're young when we're being recruited," pointed out To'o To'o. "We're super naive to everything. We jump for anything. You're only 17-18 years old when you come out of high school. So sometimes you make mistakes. Sometimes you mess up. It's not the decision that you thought it was going to be. But like ultimately, it's life. It gives them (college athletes) a different opportunity to be able to explore different avenues. And that's what it gave me."
"It gave me a chance to be able to jump back on my two feet and right my wrongs. And not saying Tennessee was a wrong choice. I love Tennessee and I love everything that the people did when I was there and my relationships that I built. But being able to go back out again and like okay, let's see what else I can do. Like, I did this year (his final season at UT), let me see what else I can do. Sometimes things don't work out for you. And it doesn't work out how you planned it. So I think it gives kids that opportunity to be able to find that plan they were looking for."
To'o To'o, who mentioned that Nick Saban had an "I told you so" conversation with him after he transferred to Alabama, made the decision that he thought was best for his football career. It stings for Tennessee fans because he went to one of the Vols' biggest rivals. But it's important to remember that players are transferring into Tennessee, too. And the Vols have been the benefactors of Alabama players transferring to UT (Kamara, former offensive lineman Brandon Kennedy, and current defensive back Brandon Turnage, for example). Ultimately, college athletes have to do what they think is best for their careers.
To'o To'o, by the way, has the rare distinction of losing to Alabama in Neyland and also losing to Tennessee in Neyland. He never did get to smoke a cigar in Knoxville after a Tennessee/Alabama game.
