De La Salle: Spartans turn to junior in Open Division title.
Early in the 2016 season, injuries at linebacker led De La Salle-Concord coach Justin Alumbaugh to troll the junior varsity camp.
A coach there told him this tall, rangy sophomore kid named Henry To’oto’o was really good. Alumbaugh watched for two minutes.
“He’s gone,” Alumbaugh said.
Two varsity practices later, longtime De La Salle defensive coordinator Terry Eidson told the same JV coach: “You’re not getting him back.”
The JV coach’s response: “I know.”
To’oto’o didn’t just make a good, fast impression. It’s been a great, lasting one.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior is the No. 26 overall national recruit from the Class of 2019, according to 247Sports, and the No. 2 outside linebacker. Last week he got his 12th college offer, this one from Alabama.
On Saturday, he’ll be showcasing more than his linebacking skills. Injuries again have thrust To’oto’o into another position, running back.
Leading De La Salle rusher Kairee Robinson, who gained more than 2,000 yards last year, is not quite 100 percent with a foot injury and might not play much.
His backup, Shamar Garrett (foot injury) is out for sure, meaning To’oto’o will be largely carrying the load on both sides of the ball when the Spartans (11-2), ranked 15th nationally by MaxPreps.com, take on No. 1 Mater Dei-Santa Ana (14-0) in the CIF State Open Division championship at 8 p.m. Saturday.
“Whatever it takes to win a state championship,” To’oto’o said. “I don’t want to let our seniors down. I don’t want to let anyone down.”
To’oto’o has had to fill in at running back sporadically this season and rushed for 487 yards (8.5 average) and 12 touchdowns.
He had a season-high 18 carries for 173 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-30 win over Central-Fresno and 130 yards and two scores in a 24-7 North Coast Section title win over Pittsburg two weeks ago.
“He can do it,” Alumbaugh said. “He’s a special kid and a special talent. He’s a great kid and a pleasure to coach.”
To help inspire To’oto’o in Saturday’s dual role, the coaching staff sat him down to watch video of former De La Salle linebacker-running back greats D.J. Williams and Kevin Simon. Both played during the fouryear run when De La Salle won four straight games over Mater Dei starting in 1998.
Williams played 11 seasons in the NFL (2004-14) as a linebacker with Denver and Chicago. Simon was also considered a solid NFL prospect until a series of knee injuries while at the University of Tennessee cut his career short.
“Those guys were amazing,” To’oto’o said. “They were animals. They took no plays off.”
Eidson has coached at least a half dozen Division I linebackers and To’oto’o reminds him most of Simon, now a scout for the Atlanta Falcons.
“He makes quick reads, gets to the hole quickly, rarely misses a tackle,” Eidson said. “He’s improved steadily throughout his time with us. He just has a great work ethic and attitude. He’s someone who’s going to be playing this game for a long time.”
To’oto’o’s said his family moved from the Sacramento area before his sophomore year. Being the cousin of De La Salle lineman Beau Tagaloa helped with the transition socially.
To’oto’o earned MaxPreps sophomore All-America honors, but the Spartans sustained a 56-33 loss in the state finals to St. John Bosco-Bellflower.
The number 56 was brought up as a rallying cry for the defense all season. It’s responded by allowing seven points or less in seven games.
Saturday, however, the Spartans face a team that could be even better offensively than Bosco was last season.
Mater Dei features the nation’s top-rated junior quarterback in JT Daniels and the top-rated senior wide receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown. Some think its offensive line, led by Alabama-bound Tommy Brown, is also the best in the country.
“They’re stacked everywhere,” To’oto’o said. “We just have to play Spartans’ football and stay aggressive.”