After missing NFL combine drills, Mike Hall Jr. has explosive pro day at Ohio State
An injured hamstring kept former Ohio State defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. from working out in front of NFL teams at the league’s scouting combine last month.
But Hall had recovered enough by Wednesday to go through drills and on-field testing at the Buckeyes’ pro day.
“This was my shot,” he said.
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Hall was among the three Buckeyes who ran in the 40-yard dash, while also taking part in the broad jump and pass-rushing drills overseen by defensive line coach Larry Johnson.
In his biggest audition in front of personnel since the Senior Bowl, he felt able to show scouts the traits that made him an explosive interior pass rusher for the Buckeyes and could position him to be their second-highest selected prospect in next month’s draft following star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
“Just how great I am in my get-off,” Hall said, “and how quick and fast and strong I am.”
While running in the 40, he said he was told he reached the range of 4.75 seconds, an unofficial time that was not far off from his goal of hitting as close to 4.6 seconds as possible.
“I felt great running,” he said.
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Among the 19 defensive tackles who ran in the 40 at the scouting combine, Florida State’s Braden Fiske posted the fastest time at 4.78 seconds.
The knock against Hall, a native of Streetsboro who declared early for the draft, is his size after he measured 6 feet, 3 inches and 290 pounds at the combine.
“Some teams say I’m undersized, some teams say I’m just right,” Hall said, “but the biggest thing for me is how I separate myself with explosiveness.”
Hall also saw his size as a selling point to teams, referencing Aaron Donald, the recently retired All-Pro defensive tackle who swarmed backfields despite standing only 6 feet 1.
“He uses his leverage and guys’ momentum against them,” Hall said. “Those bigger guys, yeah they look better on paper, but we put our hand in the dirt and have a way better advantage on the field.”
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch and can be reached at jkaufman@dispatch.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mike Hall Jr. has explosive Ohio State pro day after hamstring injury
