It was back in February when Henry To'o To'o, one of the top high school linebackers in the country, chose struggling Tennessee over current SEC champion Alabama and reigning Pac-12 champion Washington.

And while the freshman's career with the Vols has started with a pair of defeats, he isn't wavering in his belief in the program's future.

To'o To'o quickly ascended into the starting lineup at inside linebacker for Tennessee and has 15 tackles through two games, and he remains confident the Vols have a bright future with Pruitt despite the program's first 0-2 start in 31 years.

“I had seen coach Pruitt’s vision,” To’o To’o said Tuesday when asked to revisit his decision to choose the Vols seven months ago. “I trusted Coach Pruitt and I still do. I love what he has going on and the things that he tells us are going to happen. I trust him.”

Though Tennessee is off to its first 0-2 start since 1988 following the humiliating loss to Georgia State and the excruciating double-overtime defeat to BYU, one of the positives for Tennessee early in the season has been the impact of a few freshmen, To'o To'o included.

Running back Eric Gray also looks like a future star, cornerback Warren Burrell is starting and enduring some early growing pains, offensive tackles Wanya Morris and Darnell Wright have been involved on the rotation on the offensive line and outside linebackers Quavaris Crouch and Roman Harrison saw their roles expand in the loss to the Cougars.

Pruitt has hinted more newcomers could get more involved as the season progresses, too.

To'o To'o made his mark for Tennessee against BYU, knifing into the backfield to make a pair of crucial third-down stops as the Vols delivered a strong defensive effort prior to a final-second collapse and disappointing overtime.

The former top-50 prospect, who played for a national high school power in De La Salle in California, acknowledged it's “most definitely” exciting to see the talent the newcomers already have shown.

“But we are not worried about that,” he added. “We are worried about day in, day out and practice. We are worried about one practice at a time and what we have to improve as a team.”

To’o To’o said the “connection” he built with Pruitt and the Vols during the recruiting ultimately swayed him to decide on Tennessee, and he also was intrigued by what he called “the opportunity to change something and be part of something great.”

It’s a common goal Tennessee’s freshman class has for their futures.

“We have our little group chat,” To’o To’o said. “We all got together and made a promise to each other that we will be able to do things for this team. We weren’t really worried about the 2019 recruiting class. We are worried about how Tennessee football can be the best it can be.”