Alabama was one of the beneficiaries of the SEC’s abolishment of its previous rule that players that transferred inside the conference would have to sit out a year. That, along with the NCAA’s new transfer rule allowing student-athletes to transfer once without sitting a year, set off the movement of a number of football players within the league and invited an influx of further talent from outside of it.

One player who took advantage of the relaxed transfer rules was Henry To’o To’o, who racked up 76 tackles and 10 tackles for a loss as a sophomore at Tennessee in 2020. However, due in part to the Volunteers’ coaching change, the Sacramento, Calif. native entered the transfer portal, opting to join the Crimson Tide for the 2021 season.

It’s a move that will have a significant impact on Alabama’s linebacker corps especially after the loss of Dylan Moses to the NFL Draft during the offseason.

“We brought in a transfer that I think from a leadership standpoint, [it’s] above and beyond, obviously from a transfer standpoint that I’ve ever had,” Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding said on Sunday. “I think the familiarity, obviously, that he’s already had with this defense, coming where he’s from, I think has been good for us as well.”

The Tide finished the 2020 season 32nd in the country in total defense but were markedly better in that department as the season went on. The addition of To’o To’o into the fold should be a factor in helping the Tide improve even more on that side of the ball in 2021.