Rookie Henry To'oTo'o In 'Good Spot' For Texans

Ten days into training camp, Houston Texans rookie linebacker Henry To'oTo'o is in a "good spot" ahead of his first season.

HOUSTON — By trading up to the No. 3 pick, the Houston Texans left the 2023 NFL Draft with arguably the best defensive prospect in Will Anderson Jr. Two days later, the Texans added one of the most underrated prospects in Henry To'oTo'o with the No. 167 pick.

The Texans' belief in To'oTo'o has paid off 10 days into training camp, and the rookie linebacker is quickly establishing himself as one of Houston's most productive players.  

"Henry is in a really good spot for us right now," coach DeMeco Ryans said. "He’s improving, he’s doing a really good job of communicating the defense, we ask a lot of the MIKE linebackers to communicate on defense. I’m pleased with where Henry is."

Nearly every practice at the Houston Methodist Training Center, To'oTo'o's play has been one of several reasons behind the defensive's superior play during team scrimmages. 

To'oTo'o has displayed the same skill set that made him an intriguing player to Ryans during the draft.

To'oTo'o played two seasons for the Alabama Crimson Tide since 2021. He finished his college career with 205 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and one pass deflection.

Linebacker Denzel Perryman described To'oTo'o as "quiet and eager to learn." Although he has taken it upon himself to be a veteran to To'oTo'o, Perryman said working alongside the 22-year-old linebacker has also been a personal learning experience.

"We’re both learning from each other," Perryman said. "A lot of people I can name that took me under their wing the same way I’m doing with him, and just the way he is developing and the way he’s playing, you all can tell. I’d say he's not a rookie.

"This new wave of kids – I call them kids now because I’m a little older now – but just the new wave, man, just the generation, man. It just felt different. It felt different in general."

To'oTo'o is the third defensive prospect the Texans drafted from Alabama over the last two years. Houston's first came during the 2022 NFL Draft with the selection of Christian Harris.

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