HOUSTON – For Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, delivering punishing tackles is his business. And business is good.
To’oTo’o quietly goes about his handiwork, piling up textbook hits. He plays fast, scraping to the football with crisp pursuit angles. As a linebacker, he’s mobile, agile and hostile.
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Although To’oTo’o operates a bit in the shadows on a defense headlined by some of the top players in the league, his production and tackling form are nonetheless eye-popping.
When it’s right, it’s right. And that feeling of dominating an opponent is something the former Alabama standout just can’t get enough of.
“I think the perfect hit it just gives you that adrenaline rush,” To’oTo’o told KPRC 2. “I had one good one last year versus Buffalo. I think that was my favorite. That was like the perfect hit for me. And it’s just laying somebody on their back, obviously."
When his former college teammate and of of his best friends, linebacker Christian Harris, was sidelined with a strained calf for the majority of last season, it was To’oTo’o who stepped into the fray and excelled.
He started 15 games, finishing with a career-high 105 tackles with 1 1/2 sacks and interception.
"I don’t even think I’ve reached my potential yet," To’oTo’o said. “And that’s what I’m most excited about this year is to be able to build and become a player that I see myself becoming. And obviously being the best teammate that I can be for my teammates so that we reach the goals that we want to reach."
Playing for a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker and former NFL Defensive Rookie of the year in coach DeMeco Ryans, a fellow former Alabama standout, is a dream come true for To’oTo’o
Find the football. Run to the football. Arrive in a bad mood. It’s simple, and elemental for To’oTo’o as he lines up next to middle linebacker and team captain Azeez Al-Shaair.
“This system gives you an opportunity to make a lot of plays and the defense you know obviously our defensive line is the engine, but it puts a lot of stress on those linebackers to give us opportunities to make plays in the run game in the pass game and it shows our athleticism,” To’oTo’o. “So, I think that’s the biggest thing that makes us look really good and it’s a great scheme for linebackers. You know DeMeco has that that trail of great linebackers and Azeez we have one here, so it’s a great one for us.”
After two consecutive AFC South division titles, the Texans have set their ambitions on making a longer playoff run. Obviously, the goal is the Super Bowl. Why play this game if you’re not going for it all?
“Forefront of our mind every single day, is be the first one to put a bull on the ring,“ To’oTo’o said. ”And that’s our goal, and it’s not a wish, it’s something that we strive for every single day. And it takes hard work, it takes dedication, it take discipline, and that’s what we do every single day right here."
To’oTo’o grew up in Sacramento, Calif. A former All-Southeastern Conference selection for the Crimson Tide drafted in the fifth round by the Texans, To’oTo’o is from Samoan and Tongan descent. He’s deeply religious and steeped in family traditions.
“Man, I think one thing out of the Polynesian culture is huge, is our faith, our faith in Christ, and then also family,” he said. “Like I root myself in family whenever I’m down, whenever I need something, like my family’s always there. I really don’t have too many friends. I call whoever’s close to me, I call them my family. So, if I love you, I love you and I’ll write it down for you”
When To’oTo’o accepted an invitation to attend a Houston SaberCats rugby match, he was intrigued. There are a lot of Polynesian players on the roster of the Western Conference division champions. And he likes watching the rugby tackling style.
“It was good to see my culture, see my people,” To’oTo’o said. “I played a little rugby when I was young. The SaberCats are great. They’re a great team.They made it to the championship, so big shoutout to them. [00:02:44][23.9]
“They know how to keep their head out of everything and know how to play safety. So, they do some good short tackling and I take some notes from them sometimes.”
Now that Harris is back from a calf injury, the competition at linebacker ramp up in earnest. Between To’oTo’o, Harris and former Indianapolis Colts starter E.J. Speed, who excelled against the Minnesota Vikings, the Texans are well-stocked at linebacker
“It was big, I love having ‘C’ out there,” To’oTo’o said. “You can just see the difference that he makes, the big plays, the speed, the athleticism that he brings to our team. It’s good having ‘C’ back out there.
“I’ve seen the biggest smile that I’ve ever seen ever since he came back. So, having him out there has been a blessing. It’s been huge for our team. He’s only going to help us.”
To’oTo’o has maintained his conditioning, added muscle and more speed.
Paid an additional $820,000 under the NFL’s Performance-Based Pay program that rewards players under a smaller base salary, To’oTo’o is embracing the competition at linebacker. He has played the most snaps with the first-team defense next to Al-Shaair.
“It only makes us better,”To’oTo’o said. “It’s competitive. I think that’s what we want, that’s what we like, because it makes us better. We have a whole bunch of guys in there that played a lot of football, that know a lot of football and no matter who steps on that field, we know they’re going to give it their best.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
