The Houston Texans have been collecting Alabama linebackers. In 2022, Houston drafted Christian Harris in Round 3. In April, the Texans took Henry To’oTo’o in the fifth round.
With Harris and To’oTo’o going in successive years, it’s safe to say they knew each other well playing for the Crimson Tide under coach Nick Saban. However, Harris and To’oTo’o were more than enforcers in the linebacking corps.
“Chris is my dog,” To’oTo’o told reporters Aug. 4 after training camp practice. “If you all didn’t know, Christian was my best friend in college, so we went together, ate food together, went out and do stuff after the games together, play games together — so being able to play with him side-by-side, get some reps out there with him again feels great.”
The last season To’oTo’o and Harris were together was 2021 when Alabama made it as far as the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Georgia got the better of the Crimson Tide, 33-18 inside Lucas Oil Stadium. That season saw Harris generate 80 combined tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. To’oTo’o produced 111 combined tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble.
With To’oTo’o and Harris together again in Houston — playing for a former Alabama linebacker no less in coach DeMeco Ryans — the game is their livelihood; it’s a business, and it behooves the team to have the same brotherly love, not just between two former Tide, but with the entire corps.
Said To’oTo’o: “Just kind of building that chemistry, but not with only him, but with our whole entire linebacker group. We’ve got a great group of guys in there, and we all work our tails off every single day to become ultimately the best linebacker group in the NFL.”
Harris had 74 combined tackles, six tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, 1.0 sack, an interception, forced fumble, and five pass breakups through 12 games as a rookie, 11 of which he started. The Texans are hopeful To’oTo’o can match or exceed such expectations.