Michael Hall Jr. found a perfect start to his NFL career with Cleveland Browns: ‘It’s just a dream come true’
There wouldn’t have been a better destination for the defensive tackle.
It was a strange site for college football fans, specifically those who watch the Big Ten, to see Michael Hall Jr. and Zak Zinter sitting side by side at their Cleveland Browns introductory press conference last weekend. The former Ohio State defensive tackle and Michigan offensive lineman Zak Zinter were part of college football’s greatest rivalries over the last few years, with Zinter’s team getting the upper hand.
As college athletes often do when they reach the professional level, Hall will put aside the rivalry and three straight losses to Zinter’s Wolverines after he was selected No. 54 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Browns.
“I would just say, first off, The Game in itself, Up North and Ohio State rivalry is insane from Day 1,” Hall said when speaking to the Cleveland media for the first time. “Whenever you attend these prestigious colleges, that’s the main goal. But being my rival my three years throughout my career and finally being teammates here, it’s crazy to see him in the building. I’m gonna be seeing him day in and day out. But we’re brothers now, and it’s all about that.”
Hall and Zinter can worry about the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry next November when the two teams meet again. For now, Hall’s focus is on settling in with the Browns.
Aside from adjusting to the NFL, this should not be too difficult for the defensive tackle. Hall only has to move two hours north from Columbus to Cleveland. He is also returning home.
Hall split his high school career between Cleveland Benedictine and Streetsboro High School, both in the Cleveland area. As a junior, he helped lead the Rockets to an 11-1 season and their first-ever state playoff win.
He also grew up a big Browns fan. While he can only recall going to Cleveland Browns Stadium once, Hall has many memories of his favorite organization that he is now a part of.
“I remember when Johnny Manziel got drafted here, Trent Richardson. That was the best thing ever,” Hall said. “I mean, I even still watch little highlights and stuff from the old things. But, yeah, it’s just – I mean, it’s just a dream come true to be a Cleveland Brown here. Growing up here, been here my whole life, so just a hell of a feeling.”
Hall now will have to integrate into Cleveland’s defense, led by defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Just two weeks before the Browns drafted Hall, Schwartz spoke at Ohio State’s coaches clinic and now has a local product to work with on his defensive line.
The transition should be similar to returning to Cleveland. Schwartz doesn’t just deploy big bodies to eat up blockers on the interior of the defensive line but wants defensive tackles who can cause havoc and help pressure the quarterback. Like Larry Johnson, Hall’s defensive line coach with the Buckeyes, the Browns rotate their defensive linemen to keep fresh bodies on the field.
“Man, I feel like coach Schwartz is just going to bring the best out of me every day, day in and day out,” Hall said. “Our whole philosophy is to just attack and disrupt. So just having that mentality and that mindset to finally be able to let the dog unleashed, that’s the best thing ever.”
In his three seasons at Ohio State, Hall recorded 45 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and six sacks. He had a breakout sophomore season, bringing ball-carriers down in the backfield 7.5 times and taking down the quarterback 4.5 times. Despite declining numbers, Hall still finished third on the Buckeyes with 29 pressures in 2023, according to Pro Football Focus.
“He’s really tailor-made for our attack front,” Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry said of Hall on Friday. “He’s explosive, he’s quick, he can rush the passer, he’s long. And he plays really with a very high motor.
“He’s really the quintessential three-technique in our defense.
“Guys that can win 1-on-1, they create pressure. That’s just a lot more informative than counting stats or sack numbers, which just aren’t as predictive.”
Hall won’t be alone on the defensive line. The Browns have arguably the NFL’s best defensive end in Myles Garrett, as well as pass rushers Alex Wright, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Za’Darius Smith.
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