To the family of Henry To’oTo’o, “another day in Sacramento” meant violence always lurked. The future All-SEC linebacker nearly moved in 2007 to Utah, for a better, safer life, as Iese To’oTo’o, Henry’s father, said. But a tragedy rocked the family the night before they were set to leave and through that hardship, To’oTo’o learned to cherish his loved ones and play hard for them.

To’oTo’o broke down his path from California to the University of Tennessee and, eventually, Alabama in AL.com’s Road to the Pros. The Emmy-winning documentary series returns to explore To’oTo’s roots in the first of four episodes set to release over the next month.

“To teach them these life lessons, football became the most important thing to me because it was one of the things that I understood. And it was one of the things that came so natural in how to teach Henry using these tools,” Iese To’oTo’o, said.

With exclusive interviews with To’oTo, his parents, uncle and high school coaches, among others, the opening episode examines the influences of his parent’s Samoan and Tongan cultures, as well as his father’s drive to use football as a way to get an education.

More Alabama football: Alabama excited about running back room amid ‘really good’ spring

Alabama ‘going to be one of the great defenses,’ veteran defender says

More NFL Draft: Road to the Pros: Derick Hall’s unlikely journey from premature birth to the pride of Gulfport

Follow To’oTo’o through his youth football days and time at De La Salle (Calif.) High as To’oTo’o fought through tough training programs and an injury that nearly derailed a run to the state championship.

To’oTo’o was an all-state linebacker and aggressive running back, ranked 44th nationally per 247Sports Composite rankings. The To’oTo’o clan also reflects on Henry’s recruitment, which featured a late stop by Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban at the family’s home.

“Long story short, (Saban) was here for a while before Henry got home from school,” Iese To’oTo’o said. “All in all, it was a good visit. In my opinion, Coach Saban, at that moment in time would’ve done anything to get Henry. He even got to a point where he would’ve slept over.”