Scarlet Sunrise: Mike Hall Jr. named top National team defensive lineman of Senior Bowl week
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Mike Hall Jr. named top National Team defensive lineman of Senior Bowl week
Mike Hall Jr. might not be the biggest defensive tackle in Mobile, Alabama, this week. But he emerged as one of the biggest risers of Senior Bowl prep.
After being left out of the top-five defensive tackles by all four ESPN NFL Draft analysts in the outlet’s most recent round of prospect rankings, Hall showed why belongs in that discussion.
He was named the top National team defensive lineman of the week. That particular honor was voted on by offensive line teammates at the practice player-of-the-week awards ceremony.
Hall demonstrated his ability to wreak havoc, especially as a pass rusher, throughout the week. He was third among Ohio State defenders in pressures generated (29) this past season, according to Pro Football Focus. The Streetsboro, Ohio, native finished 2023 with a career-high 24 total tackles but only 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The year before, though, he had 7.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks.
As NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein and Eric Edholm reported, Hall put some good play on tape against highly-touted Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson.
On Wednesday, Hall had a would-be sack against Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. He also batted down a pass from Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman, per Zierlein and Edholm, who project that Hall will have to win at the NFL level as a 3-technique.
“I’m not the strongest guy in the world,” Hall said in that NFL.com report, “but I feel like my speed and just how hard to try to come off the ball, I try to generate as much speed to power as I can and just harness that lower-body strength as best I can.”
In the video above, you can see Hall spinning past Michigan’s Trevor Keegan. Hall’s effective swim move was also on display this week.
He was one of ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller’s top risers.
“If you squinted during practices this week and looked at No. 51 for the National team, you might have had flashbacks to when Aaron Donald was at the Senior Bowl in 2014. Hall is a smaller defensive tackle at 6-foot-2 and 280 pounds, but his burst off the line is stunning. He routinely beat blockers off the ball and was a blur through the gaps. Hall’s lack of size will hold him back on certain team boards, but as a penetrator, he had no peer at the Senior Bowl. I have a Round 3 grade on him, but that will vary for teams that value a gap-splitting pass-rusher (20 pressures in 2023) who may have to leave the field on running downs.”
Matt Miller, ESPN
Hall is one of two Ohio State players set to participate in Saturday’s Senior Bowl, which kicks off at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on NFL Network. The other is safety Josh Proctor, who’s also on the National team.
Tim May: Caleb Downs, Seth McLaughlin bringing lessons learned from Nick Saban to Ohio State
Nick Saban has retired from coaching, but his lessons over the years have been passed on to many players, including Ohio State transfer additions Seth McLaughlin and Caleb Downs.
The veteran center and underclassman safety shared what they learned from Saban during their time in Tuscaloosa.
For Tim May’s full Lettermen Row story on what they said, go here.
Taking closer look at Buckeyes right tackle position
Josh Fryar started every game at right tackle last season for the Buckeyes. But, despite earning first-team All-Big Ten recognition from the media, Fryar had his fair share of struggles, most notably allowing five sacks, per PFF.
Fryar is the incumbent at the position, however, he’ll surely be challenged this offseason. Lettermen Row explored who could give him a push and possibly even unseat him.
Check it out here.
Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Akron: 210 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 301 days
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