Ohio State DL Mike Hall Jr. Will Not Test At NFL Scouting Combine
INDIANAPOLIS -- Ohio State has eight players meeting with teams this week at the NFL Scouting Combine. Six will test starting tomorrow at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. announced earlier this week he would not be testing. Now, defensive lineman Mike Hall Jr. is joining him.
Hall suffered a hamstring injury earlier this week in preparation for the event and will not participate in drills, but did say he will work out in all drills at Ohio State's Pro Day on March 20.
Hall, one of two underclassmen to leave Columbus following an 11-2 season, believes he can fit anywhere in the trenches. While a one-tech under Jim Knowles' defensive front, the 6-3 defensive tackle is certain a position switch to either a three-tech or five-tech wouldn't be a concern.
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"Anywhere on the defensive line, just as long as I'm a great asset to the team, bringing juice and setting those standards and raising the bar," Hall said. "I can play anywhere on the line."
Maybe it's confidence. Perhaps it's consistency. Whatever the reason for this belief, Hall is ready for the next step in his career. He's prepared, too, especially after playing under Knowles' defensive scheme for two years.
"He's the best defensive coordinator I had at Ohio State," said Hall. "He allowed me to play freely and he understood everybody's strength. He used the best of us and never took that away from us. He allowed us to go out there every time we stepped on the field and play hard."
A projected third-round pick, Hall could benefit from sitting out this week. It also could blunder his draft stock depending on the performance of names like Texas' T'Vondre Sweat, Florida State's Braden Fiske and Auburn's Marcus Harris, among others.
Scouts seem high on Hall's potential. A two-time All-Big Ten third-team member, the bust, speed and closing style all should translate to the next level. Several scouts have even compared his size and agility to three-time Defensive Player of the Year and Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald.
Hall's appreciative of the comparison, but he knows the comp means little if he can't produce once on the field. He started the process last month at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
He hopes to continue the narrative once back in Columbus.
"You just hear a lot of people say I'm undersized or what I can't do so I just left everything out there at the Senior Bowl," said Hall. "I believe I did well."
Steele Chamers and Tommy Eichenberg will test tomorrow alongside the linebackers and defensive lineman. Safety Josh Proctor will test on Friday.
