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.