NCS Junior of the Year
HENRY TO'OTO'O, DE LA SALLE
Coming into this season, there was plenty of expectation for De La Salle junior Henry To’oto’o. The touted linebacker recruit lived up to all the hype, and then some, flourishing on both sides of the ball for the Spartans, who won their 26th straight NCS title and once again reached the CIF Open Division championship game.
To’oto’s production was not surprising on the defensive side, where he racked up 101 tackles with seven sacks this year. More than his number, however, was his ability to change a defensive philosophy which remains fairly constant from year-to-year.
“Henry allowed us to run multiple defensive looks this year, and he’s like another coach out there,” said De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh. “He’s great versus the run and great in coverage, but we also found out he was a very effective blitzer, so we added a lot more of that to our defense this year.”
Not only did To’oto’o allow De La Salle to incorporate different defensive looks, but he also played a large role in the offense’s ability to keep humming, as senior running back Kairee Robinson missed significant time with a foot injury.
In his first featured game at running back, To’oto’o carried the rock 18 times for 173 yards and a touchdown in a hard-fought 49-30 win over Central-Fresno. He was needed on offense only sparingly for the majority of the regular season, but the Spartans leaned on him again in the NCS Open Division title game, and he responded with a 13-carry, 140-yard performance against Pittsburg, running for another score in the process.
“It was a huge benefit being able to use him at running back as well,” Alumbaugh added. “He’s a big physical runner for us, and he could have handled even more there, but it was part of our plan for offense to be where he got his rest.”
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound athlete has received plenty of interest from colleges all vying for his services. He has offers from schools such as Alabama, Oregon, UCLA, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Washington, among others. Composite rankings have him among the top three overall recruits from California, and Alumbaugh fully expects him to get even better.
“He is a multifaceted athlete, with no glaring weakness. He’s physical, loves the game, and is a lot of fun to coach,” Alumbaugh said. “Henry is a very bright kid, and is hungry for next season. We just got back from break, and he is already a leader in the weight room.”
That sentiment from a coach who is hard to impress could mean great things for To’oto’o's final year of high school football, though his opponents certainly will not feel the same way. With all the accolades and praise coming his way, we are also pleased to recognize him as our Prep2Prep NCS Junior of the Year.
Other players considered for this award include: Pittsburg’s Jacob Bandes, Cardinal Newman’s Dino Kahaulelio, and Bishop O’Dowd’s Austin Jones.
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