The postseason honors just keep rolling in for Tennessee’s star freshman linebacker.
Henry To’o To’o was already named to the True Freshman All-American team by 247Sports earlier this week. On Thursday, the Vols’ young star was honored with another All-American distinction, this time from The Athletic.
To’o To’o was named a First Team Freshman All-American linebacker by The Athletic on Thursday. To’o To’o’s teammate, freshman offensive tackle Wanya Morris, made the second team freshman offense.
“Inking To’o To’o was a massive recruiting victory for Jeremy Pruitt and his staff, and he played up to all their expectations in earning a starting job right away and producing 64 tackles, second-most among all SEC freshmen, along with five tackles for loss,” writes Max Olson. “He’s the kind of guy this staff wants to build its program and defense around.”
The 6-foot-2, 232-pound linebacker from De La Salle High School in California was a Day 1 starter for the Vols this season. He became the first true freshman to start at linebacker for Tennessee in a season opener since both AJ Johnson and Curt Maggitt did so to start the 2011 season.
To’o To’o didn’t disappoint, either.
A former top-50 recruit in the 2019 class, To’o To’o became the first Vol freshman since Dwayne Goodrich in 1996 to lead the team in tackles in a season opener when he tallied seven against Georgia State. To’o To’o would only continue to produce as the season went along.
In 12 games this season, To’o To’o totaled 64 tackles, five tackles for loss, half a sack, three quarterback hurries, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup.
As for Morris, he’s been a fixture on Tennessee’s offensive line all season, and he’s only gotten better as the year has gone on. Morris has started all but one of UT’s games this season, and he’s been the Vols’ anchor at left tackle as a true freshman. The 6-foot-4, 313-pound lineman joined Tennessee as a five-star from Grayson High School in Georgia.
To’o To’o and Morris also earned Freshman All-SEC honors on Thursday, as did offensive lineman Darnell Wright.
Both Morris and Wright were named to the 2019 SEC All-Freshman Offense while To’o To’o was named to the All-Freshman Defense.
Wright has been a starter for most of the 2019 season for Tennessee, and he’s played at both right tackle and guard for the Vols. Just like Morris, Wright joined the Vols as a five-star out of high school, hailing from Huntington, West Virginia.
This year marks the first time since 2014 that Tennessee has three players on the SEC All-Freshman teams.
