Henry To'oTo'o on early impressions of Eli Ricks
Alabama reeled in arguably one of the biggest names in the NCAA Transfer Portal this season when the Crimson Tide landed a commitment from former LSU cornerback Eli Ricks, and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o has been impressed with his new teammate so far.
“Definitely talented,” To’oTo’o said of Ricks. “He works really, really hard. Ever since he came in, day one, he wanted to learn, he wanted to work out in the weight room 24/7. He wanted to get in off-field work. He’s been in the training room 24/7, so whenever I’m in there, I see him in there. So, it’s the little things like that that you kind of take note of with players like that, and know that he’s going to be a good addition to the program.”
Ricks made his presence known as a true freshman in 2020, racking up 20 tackles (11 solo stops), half a tackle for a loss, nine passes defended, four interceptions and two touchdowns in LSU’s abbreviated ten-game season. His performance made him a 2020 Freshman All-American honoree, while also being named to the Freshman All-SEC team. His 2021 season fell short of expectations, though, due to a season-ending injury. Ricks missed the season-opener, then played in the next five games, finishing with 11 total tackles (nine solo stops), one pass defended and one interception before he was ruled out for the season with an injury. Now at Alabama, he’ll team up with To’oTo’o and Will Anderson in what should be one of the greatest defenses in the country.
Ricks was a five-star recruit and the second-highest rated commit in LSU’s 2020 recruiting class, trailing only tight end Arik Gilbert. He ranked as the No. 23 overall recruit in the On3 Consensus, making him the No. 3 cornerback in his class, as he earned a five-star rating from two sites, and a four-star label from another. Ricks, a native of Rancho Cucamonga, California, held offers from most every Power Five school coming out of IMG Academy. He ultimately picked LSU from his final list of schools, which also included Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State and USC. However, he later changed his destination via the NCAA Transfer Portal, teaming up with To’oTo’o at Alabama.
Henry To’oTo’o explains what he has learned about Alabama culture
Henry To’oTo’o knew the culture at Alabama was strong while he was playing against the Crimson Tide with the Tennessee Volunteers. However, since transferring to Alabama, To’oTo’o has learned some valuable lessons about the culture of the program.
In a press conference, To’oTo’o explained what he’s gathered about the Alabama culture thus far during his time at Tuscaloosa.
“Definitely the hard work that comes within this place. That comes within this building,” answered To’oTo’o regarding Alabama’s culture. “It kind of reminds me of my high school. I played at De La Salle High School, and it’s a tradition, it’s a culture. So, that’s obviously one of the huge things that I’ve learned here. The hard work, the grind that goes into every single day.
“It’s not something that you just wake up and Alabama’s going to be good every single day. You know, it’s definitely the hard work, the dedication. Practice, film. And obviously our coach is doing a tremendous job of preparing us to be the best that we can.”
It’s no wonder why Henry To’oTo’o has fit like a glove with Alabama. The former Tennessee linebacker is everything Nick Saban could want in a linebacker and more. Moving forward, it’s easy to see why To’oTo’o is taking on a larger leadership role with the Crimson Tide.