Tag: Henry To’oTo’o

Storylines to follow in Alabama’s matchup with Utah State

Here are the top storylines to follow in the Crimson Tide’s season-opening matchup with Utah State.

Alabama football is back, ladies and gentlemen! Week 0 has concluded and we now move on to week one of the college football season.

[autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] and Alabama will not have as easy of a task as most fans would think in their week one matchup against Utah State. Utah State is coming off a special season in 2021 where they won 11 games, including a win over a power five program in their bowl game.

Utah State also returns several key members from their historic 2021 team and will not come into Bryant-Denny Stadium and just hand the Crimson Tide the win.

The Crimson Tide will have their work cut out for them come Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. Let’s take a look at a few of the storylines as we enter Week 1 of Alabama’s 2022 football season

Alabama countdown to kickoff: 10 days

Just 10 days separate us from the start of Alabama’s 2022 football season.

The Alabama Crimson Tide will take the field for the 2022 college football season in 10 days, as Utah State visits Bryant Denny Stadium on Sept. 3.

This will be Alabama’s first season-opener at home in quite some time, as the 18-time national champs are usually selected for a nationally televised kickoff game at a neutral site against a big-time opponent.

Here at Roll Tide Wire, we will be counting down the days until [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] and his team take the field.

Today, with 10 days remaining, we will take a look at one of the leaders for the Crimson Tide, senior linebacker [autotag]Henry To’oTo’o[/autotag].

Henry transferred over from rival Tennessee before the start of the 2021 season and his impact with the Tide was instant, leading the team with 113 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks.

To’oTo’o will be one of the leaders of what should be a stout Alabama defense in 2022.

Henry To’oTo’o’s Photo Gallery

Two Alabama players named to Polynesian CFB Player of the Year Watch List

Both Cameron Latu and Henry To’oto’o were listed on the College Football Polynesian Player of the Year watch list on Thursday.

Two Alabama players, Cameron Latu and Henry To’oto’o were named to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List. Altogether, the list is composed of 85 different players from various FBS schools across the country.

If one of the two Alabama players were to win, it wouldn’t be the first player out of Tuscaloosa to win Polynesian Player of the Year.

In 2018 and 2019, former Alabama quarterback and Hawaiian native Tua Tagovailoa won the award.

Latu is a redshirt senior for the Crimson Tide. Originally, he was signed to play weakside defensive end. However, with a lack of depth at the tight end position, the Alabama coaching staff converted him to a pass-catching tight end. Ever since he changed positions in 2019, he has played a key role on the offensive side of the ball.

In the 40 games that he has played in, he has managed to record 26 receptions for 410 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Last season, as a redshirt junior, Latu surpassed former Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr. for most touchdown receptions by an Alabama tight end in a single season with eight.

The other player that was named to the award watch list is senior linebacker Henry To’oto’o. The native of California joined the Crimson Tide as a transfer after having spent two seasons at Tennessee. He will now be entering his second season with the Crimson Tide. Last season, he was listed as a Second-Team All-SEC selection from coaches around the conference. He also led the team in tackles with 113.

To’oto’o could have very well been an early-round draft pick in last year’s draft. However, he decided to come back to Tuscaloosa for his senior season. The Crimson Tide will return great veteran leadership and play from Latu and To’oto’o.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to track other Alabama football news as the 2022 college football season approaches.

[mm-video type=video id=01g9z7kse2kxd6eb7ttt playlist_id=01eqbz6mkdd99nyvkm player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g9z7kse2kxd6eb7ttt/01g9z7kse2kxd6eb7ttt-e0ea5ef452348db626fcaadbf752acd1.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=54491]

[lawrence-related id=54507]

[lawrence-related id=54448]

Henry To’oTo’o raves about Jahmyr Gibbs and the other Alabama running backs

Henry To’oTo’o offers up high praise of Jahymr Gibbs and the other Alabama running backs.

Now that fall camp is officially underway and pads have begun to pop, we will start to receive small glimpses of how the 2022 Alabama football team may look.

Another exciting part of fall camp is the player’s availability to the media throughout the week. On Friday, star linebacker [autotag]Henry To’oTo’o[/autotag] had his chance to speak to the media and the Tide’s returning leading tackler had some very positive things to say about [autotag]Jahmyr Gibbs[/autotag] and Alabama’s other slew of talented backs.

To’oTo’o was asked what it was like trying to cover the speedster in Gibbs, and the rising senior had this to say.

“Jahmyr’s been doing great. So fast, so elusive. Gets in and out of his cuts so quick. I’ve never guarded a back like him before. So being able to see that for me has been so helpful to me because it lets me know how I can work on my game.

“But Jahmyr’s been great. Our whole entire running back room’s been great. We’re really deep in that room. So being able to have guys like that, back-to-back punches, is going to be huge for us.”

Alabama fans have to be excited about the depth that Alabama has at the running back position this fall. If we are being honest, Gibbs provides a different dynamic than what we have seen lately in Tuscaloosa with his ability to make explosive plays not only rushing the ball but also in the passing game.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire as we will provide continuous coverage of Alabama’s fall camp!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Four Alabama Football players placed on the Nagurski Trophy watch List

Four Crimson Tide stars name to the Nagurski Trophy watch list

The Nagurski Trophy is annually handed out to the best defensive player in college football, and four members of the Crimson Tide appear on the 2022 preseason watchlist. Will Anderson Jr. is the reigning award winner, and joining him on the watch list for this upcoming season are Eli Ricks, Jordan Battle and Henry To’oTo’o.

Ricks will be making his debut for the Tide in 2022, however, he was already a Third-team All-American in 2020 with the LSU Tigers. To’oTo’o will be starting for his fourth season in the SEC and led the Tide in tackles in 2021. To the surprise of many, Battle stuck around for his senior year instead of declaring for the NFL draft and is one of the biggest playmakers in the collegiate game.

While there is a great chance that Anderson goes back to back, it would be interesting to see if a teammate of his contends for the award.

[mm-video type=video id=01g7zhc7a1knyf2znwm1 playlist_id=01eqbz6mkdd99nyvkm player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g7zhc7a1knyf2znwm1/01g7zhc7a1knyf2znwm1-bb9e5afab1dacc49fbdb3a2b7d82d76f.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=53565]

[lawrence-related id=53500]

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Moody, To’oTo’o named to Butkus Award Watch List

Two Tide linebackers named to Butkus Award watch list!

It is no question that the Crimson Tide will have one of the best linebacking duos in college football this season between Jaylen Moody and Henry To’oTo’o. The two were recently placed on the Butkus Award watch list for the most outstanding linebacker in the country.

To’oTo’o was the leading tackler for the Tide in 2021 and will be entering his fourth season as a starter in the SEC, and the second in Tuscaloosa. This will be Moody’s first season as a full-time starter for Nick Saban.

These two combined with a ferocious defensive line are going to make for one of the scariest front sevens in all of football.

[mm-video type=video id=01g8c201tsqd2rq1xmft playlist_id=01eqbz6mkdd99nyvkm player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g8c201tsqd2rq1xmft/01g8c201tsqd2rq1xmft-98090a61c4af3208041fc5656a52a55d.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=53582]

[lawrence-related id=53565]

Alabama countdown to kickoff: 42 days

We are only Jaylen Moody days away from the start of Alabama’s 2022 football season.

The Alabama Crimson Tide will take the field for the 2022 college football season in 42 days, as Utah State visits Bryant Denny Stadium on Sept. 3.

This will be Alabama’s first season-opener at home in quite some time, as the 18-time national champs are usually selected for a nationally televised kickoff game at a neutral site against a big-time opponent.

Here at Roll Tide Wire, we will be counting down the days until [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] and his team take the field.

Today, with 42 days remaining, we will take a look at the current Tide player that wears No. 42 in senior linebacker [autotag]Jaylen Moody[/autotag].

Moody has mostly been a backup player for Alabama over the past few seasons but looks to possibly start alongside Henry To’oTo’o this fall.

Jaylen Moody’s Photo Gallery

Handful of Alabama stars named among ESPN’s top-40 ‘most impactful transfers’ over last 5 years

Alabama’s dominance on the recruiting trail wasn’t enough, so Saban decided to try his hand at the transfer portal.

Alabama football has been a recruiting giant with Nick Saban at the helm. While he’s proven himself to be excellent at landing commitments from players leaving high school to enter the collegiate ranks, he’s done a fantastic job recruiting players from the NCAA transfer portal.

In recent years, the portal has become more accessible for players to enter and transfer without needing to sit out a year. Some call it free agency, others consider it more opportunities for young players with a limited amount of eligibility.

Saban has been able to reel in some of the nation’s top-tier talent from both sides of the ball because of the transfer portal.

ESPN recently shared a list of the top 40 most impactful transfers over the last five seasons. Five transfers made the list, as well as one former member of the Crimson Tide that elected to leave the program.

Projecting Alabama Football’s 2022 stat leaders

Alabama’s 2022 roster is loaded with talent, see who is projected to lead every major stat category!

The Alabama Crimson Tide head into the 2022 campaign with maybe one of the most talented rosters they have ever had under head coach [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag]. From reigning Heisman trophy winner [autotag]Bryce Young[/autotag] to college football’s leader in tackles for loss and sacks last season [autotag]Will Anderson[/autotag], this team is going to be dangerous at every position on the depth chart.

Last year Bryce Young, [autotag]Brian Robinson[/autotag] Jr. and [autotag]Jameson Williams[/autotag] were the superstars on offense, but this year we think that Young, [autotag]Jahmyr Gibbs[/autotag] and [autotag]Jermaine Burton[/autotag] will be the workhorses of this team.

Defensively, Anderson and Henry To’oTo’o will lead the way again. However, LSU transfer, [autotag]Eli Ricks[/autotag], will be a cornerstone piece of this 2022 defense. Sophomore [autotag]Dallas Turner[/autotag] got hot as the season went on, and he is going to have a breakout season as well we predict.

Here’s what we predict them to put up this season:

CFB analyst explains in detail why Alabama has the best LB room in the nation

Alabama Football has the two best linebackers in the country

Alabama Football has produced a plethora of superstars under [autotag]Coach Saban[/autotag] in the past decade. From a receiver room that featured [autotag]Jerry Jeudy[/autotag] [autotag]Henry Ruggs[/autotag] [autotag]DeVonta Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaylen Waddle[/autotag] to a running back room that had [autotag]Derrick Henry[/autotag] [autotag]Alvin Kamara[/autotag] [autotag]T.J. Yeldon[/autotag] and [autotag]Kenyan Drake[/autotag], it is safe to say that Saban is used to working with loaded position groups.

However, the 2022 Tide linebackers may be the best unit that Tuscaloosa, and college football for that matter, has ever seen.

247 Sports’ CFB analyst, Josh Pate, discussed the position group today as he said, “I think Alabama has the two best linebacker’s in college football in [autotag]Will Anderson[/autotag] and [autotag]Dallas Turner[/autotag].” The duo amazingly accounted for 20 sacks in 2021 as both were true underclassmen.

Behind the two superstars, is former five-star [autotag]Chris Braswell[/autotag] who would be a premier pass rusher at any other school, says Pate. The Tide also return their leading tackler from the 2021 campaign in [autotag]Henry To’oTo’o[/autotag] and he is joined by veteran [autotag]Jaylen Moody[/autotag]. Having these four on the field at the same time will be a headache for every single opponent this year.

In the waiting, are highly rated recruits such as [autotag]Deontae Lawson[/autotag] [autotag]Kendrick Blackshire[/autotag] and others. However, the real prized possession is IMG Academy’s [autotag]Jihaad Campbell[/autotag] who will likely fill Anderson’s role in 2023.

From starters to what’s coming down the pipeline, we will look back in a few years and certainly discuss the surreal amount of talent in this position group.

[mm-video type=video id=01g4x715x8b64p4e11kg playlist_id=01eqbz6mkdd99nyvkm player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g4x715x8b64p4e11kg/01g4x715x8b64p4e11kg-18f547ef690c3df77a424669ac0b7bcd.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=51578]

[lawrence-related id=51575]

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!