Tennessee Vols: Henry To'o To'o approaches football like a current NFL Pro-Bowl linebacker
One of the main the reasons the Tennessee Vols started the season 0-2 was the absence of senior linebacker Daniel Bituli. Bituli serves as the quarterback of Tennessee's defense. And because the Vols' defense was full of youth, his presence was especially necessary early in the season. It's no surprise that when Bituli returned, Tennessee […]
One of the main the reasons the Tennessee Vols started the season 0-2 was the absence of senior linebacker Daniel Bituli.
Bituli serves as the quarterback of Tennessee's defense. And because the Vols' defense was full of youth, his presence was especially necessary early in the season.
It's no surprise that when Bituli returned, Tennessee immediately started playing better.
But with Bituli moving on after this season, it will be important for another Vol to step up and captain UT's defense.
That player is expected to be Henry To'o To'o, a California native who totaled 64 tackles as a true freshman in 2019.
At times this season, To'o To'o looked like a linebacker with years of college experience. Sure, he made some freshman mistakes, but for the most part he delivered on the hype that surrounded him when he signed with Tennessee as a four-star recruit (not bad for a player who didn't join UT until the summer).
The reason for To'o To'o's stud-like play in 2019?
It's most likely his new love for watching film, which he learned from Bituli.
To'o To'o recently told VolQuest that he noticed this year that Bituli was watching film on his iPad "almost 24/7". To'o To'o started doing the same and said he now feels like he can tell what's coming most of the time thanks to his diligent film study, saying "I want you to run that play because I know it’s coming. That film study pays off."
When I read To'o To'o's comments, I instantly thought of Carolina Panthers Pro-Bowl linebacker Luke Kuechly, who has a reputation in the NFL for being obsessed with watching film.
Kuechly is so obsessed with watching film that former Panthers head coach Ron Rivera once had to run him out of the team building on Christmas Eve.
Via The Athletic:
It was 2015. It was Christmas Eve. I walked in, he was still on the projector. It was 5:15 or 5:30 (p.m.). I said, ‘Hey, you need to go home.’ He said, ‘Well, nobody gets here ‘til tomorrow morning.’ I said, ‘Well, it’s Christmas Eve, I think you need to go home. I’ll come back in an hour. I hope I don’t catch you.’
I get this same vibe from Daniel Bituli. And it's a vibe that I believe has rubbed off on To'o To'o.
To'o To'o has the potential to be one of the best linebackers in the SEC. He has the on-the-field ability to make the plays and he has the off-the-field desire to put in the work to be more prepared than anyone else on Saturdays.
It's clear that Bituli's had a major influence on To'o To'o and that bodes well for the future of Tennessee football.
Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt knew it was important to establish a culture where veteran players teach younger players.
After two seasons, it appears that Pruitt's been successful in that endeavor.
Featured image via Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
