David Ubben
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I went out to the Bay Area earlier this month to spend some time with Henry To'oto'o, his family and other people who know him well for a story on how the Vols landed him and who Tennessee is getting in the California native. Wanted to pass the story along. I think you all would enjoy it.
Here's the full story, and a sample.
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.
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.”
It made Henry feel like he impressed Pruitt. At the same time, it gave him a glimpse of how much more he had to learn and how eager Pruitt was to teach him.
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.
Here's the full story, and a sample.
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.
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.”
It made Henry feel like he impressed Pruitt. At the same time, it gave him a glimpse of how much more he had to learn and how eager Pruitt was to teach him.
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.
