Tolbert was born on February 27, 1999, in Mobile, Alabama, and attended McGill–Toolen Catholic High School, where he played baseball, basketball, and football.

[2] Tolbert was rated a two-star recruit and initially committed to play college football at Jacksonville State before choosing to attend the University of South Alabama.

[3] Tolbert redshirted his true freshman season at South Alabama after suffering a knee injury in preseason training camp.

[7] He was again named first-team All-Sun Belt and the conference's Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 after resetting his own school records with 82 receptions for 1,474 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

[15] In Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football, Tolbert caught the game-winning touchdown with 20 seconds remaining in a 20–17 victory.