Michigan State LB Jordan Hall reflects on patience, growth, and the road ahead
Many players brought in by the previous regime at Michigan State have since moved on for various reasons—NIL opportunities, a desire for more playing time, or the pursuit of more consistent wins. The 2024 season came with inevitable growing pains as Jonathan Smith and his new staff worked to implement their culture and system in a drastically different environment. For some, leaving may have seemed like the easier choice. But as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait—and junior linebacker Jordan Hall is poised to prove that old adage true as he steps into a leading role for the Spartans this season.
With the departure of linebackers Jordan Turner and Cal Haladay — MSU’s top two tacklers from last season — Hall is expected to take the lead on defense in 2025. While the amount of new faces this year may not be as drastic, last season’s combination of roster turnover and a new coaching staff played a role in the Spartans’ 5-7 finish. At a program like Michigan State, there’s an urgency to rebuild fast, and the pressure to get things moving quickly remains. Hall had the opportunity to talk about that pressure and much more at Big Ten Football Media Days in Las Vegas on Thursday.
“It’s a difficult job to do in the landscape of college football to take a brand-new team with (61) new players and be successful,” Hall said. “So I think looking at year two… we don’t feel any pressure. We know where we want to go.”
Hall’s career has had its ups and downs so far. He arrived in East Lansing in 2023 as a highly touted recruit—the final class signed under then head coach Mel Tucker’s staff. As a freshman, he made an immediate impact, appearing in all 12 games with six starts at linebacker. He finished fourth on the team with 67 tackles and ranked second in both sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (7.5), showcasing his potential early on.
He ended the 2023 season as one of the program’s most promising young players, poised to take a major step forward both as a performer and a leader in his sophomore year. But things shifted quickly when Wisconsin transfer Jordan Turner arrived and secured the starting linebacker spot. The veteran transfer pushed Hall down the depth chart with his playing time and production declining in 2024 as a result. By season’s end, he had every reason to consider a fresh start elsewhere.
But now, the defense is Hall’s.
“Sometimes you got to stick things out a little bit,” Hall said. “It might sting a little, but what’s most beneficial for (my) growth and development was here under Coach Rossi and Coach Smith’s coaching.”.
Hall’s relationship with the coaches played a big role in ensuring he stayed the course to develop into the player they want him to be. In today’s transfer landscape, it speaks to a young man’s character to be able to commit to people and to a place long term, especially in Hall’s situation where he had to wait for his opportunity.
“It was kind of a tough transition for me… I really thought that this was going to be like my jump year where, you know, we got a new staff, a new start. It was kind of going to be my defense,” Hall said when asked about how he adjusted to Jordan Turner coming in last year. “But after sitting down with coach Rossi, he’s very upfront and honest… He told me there’s a lot of things in your game that need to be improved… And so I trusted him in that process.”
Hall’s priorities extend well beyond football—his faith and family provide a strong foundation in his life. He helps lead a team Bible study, often hosting gatherings at his home alongside fellow players. When faced with the decision of whether to return in the offseason, Hall pointed to his uncle (Hall’s first ever football coach) as a key influence. He encouraged Hall to stay the course and continue his journey in East Lansing.
“I can name a thousand people who have done the opposite of what I did and jetted out there right away because they didn’t get the response that they were looking for,” Hall said. “But, you know, actually talking to (my uncle) and him pouring into me, we knew that that wasn’t the best option in this case, and (leaving is) not always going to be the best option.”
Moving into year two for the regime now means heavier expectations. People around the program seem to be adding more pressure in a noticeable shift in vibes from how last season ended. Internally, the hunger to succeed is undoubtedly present, but remaining focused on the present day and the next opponent seems to be the mindset for this team.
“Of course that’s one of the goals that we have for the season is to be playing in those November, December, January months,” Hall stated. “But if you harp on those things right now in the middle of July, you’ll never be able to focus on your opponent weeks one through 10. So we have that goal in the back of our mind, but there’s hundreds of other goals that are going to lead us to that end goal. So that’s kind of what we’re focused on right now, taking that one week, one game, one time.”
The wave of roster turnover across college football in recent years has become chaotic—especially with money now playing a major role. Michigan State has managed to bring in and retain key players thanks in part to its budget, though it’s also missed out on a few targets. For the young athletes who do benefit more than others from NIL deals, the added spotlight brings a level of pressure that mirrors what professional players face.
“It doesn’t really build any pressure for us,” Hall said when asked about if NIL has affected the mental attitudes of the team in any way. “I mean, I’ve reaped the benefits of of NIL, and I don’t feel any pressure at all. And so I doubt that the team does or the university or the program does.”
The challenges Hall has faced early in his career are likely to pay off for a player with his talent and mindset. While he carries himself with calm and composure at the podium, that shouldn’t be mistaken for how he plays on the field. He’s exactly the kind of presence you want leading the middle of the defense—and now, his moment to shine has arrived.
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