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DT Joel Hale (Official Thread)

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DT Hale commits to Ohio State
By Michael Pointer
Posted: June 9, 2010

Center Grove defensive tackle Joel Hale was in an enviable position. Offers from college football powers were coming in. Hale and his family made unofficial visits to several of them.

But when they visited Ohio State, something felt different. So Hale cut short a recruiting process that could have extended until the February signing date and committed to the Buckeyes.

"I've been traveling for a while," Hale said. "When I went on that visit last weekend, it felt right. It's going to be the best decision for me and my family. I was kind of ready to get it out of the way and get focused on what we have here."

The 6-4, 290-pound Hale said he also visited Florida, Georgia Tech, Purdue, Indiana, Kentucky and Cincinnati. He also seriously considered Penn State.
But he said he was impressed by the fact that he would be part of a 2011 Buckeyes recruiting class that is expected to be one of the best in the nation, especially along the defensive front.

Center Grove coach Eric Moore said he suspects Moore may be asked to move to offensive tackle at some point, but Hale said the coaches told him they plan to use him on the defensive line.

"If I see I'm not playing and can't contribute on the defensive side of the ball, I'll be glad to make that switch," he said. "But I prefer defense and I want to go with that."

Hale is ranked as the 34th-best defensive tackle in the nation in the 2011 class by recruiting service Rivals.com. He started for Center Grove's 2008 Class 5A state champion team and had 35 tackles and four quarterback sacks as a junior last season.

Moore has had several highly recruited players in 11 years at Center Grove, but he said Hale received the most interest. It picked up after college coaches saw film of his dominating performance in Center Grove's 48-7 victory over Bloomington North in the sectional title game last November.
Hale returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown and keyed a defense that held Bloomington North star running back D'Angelo Roberts to 63 yards on 18 carries.
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DT Hale commits to Ohio State | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star
 
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Center Grove defensive lineman decides to play for Ohio State

[FONT=ARIAL, SANS SERIF]BY RICK MORWICK[/FONT]
[FONT=ARIAL, SANS SERIF]Sports editor[/FONT]

[FONT=HELVETICA, SANS SERIF]June 8, 2010

Joel Hale has college size, pro potential and an NFL dream.

But first things first.

He also has one more year to play football at Center Grove, followed by, if all goes according to plan, four more at Ohio State.

One of the Midwest's most sought-after recruits, Hale has accepted a scholarship offer from the Buckeyes.

[/FONT][FONT=HELVETICA, SANS SERIF]A 6-foot-5, 290-pound senior defensive lineman, Hale selected Ohio State from a short list that included Indiana, Florida, Penn State, Georgia Tech and Wisconsin.

In total, Hale received more than a dozen major NCAA Division I offers. They also

came from Michigan, Michigan State, Boston College, Illinois, Kentucky, Duke, Boston College, Cincinnati, Toledo, Purdue and Iowa State.

Hale chose Ohio State because of its sterling tradition and its relatively close proximity to his family's home.

"I didn't plan on (choosing) this early, but it felt right. So I just went ahead and made the decision," said Hale, who told Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel of his decision Sunday.

Hale visited Ohio State three times, most recently over the weekend.

"They have a great coaching staff, and me being close to home is just going to be for the best," Hale said. "I like the players that are committed in my class, and then there's the chance to win the Big Ten championship and maybe even more."

Hale's mother, Dawn Whitaker, supports her son's decision. She, too, is enamored of Ohio State's tradition and is delighted by the prospect of attending most, if not all, of his games, including road trips.

"Most importantly, I get to watch him play," she said. "Plus, it's a big football program, which is what he was looking for.

"He's been a part of a winning team for years, so he wants to continue to be part of a winning team."

Hale also wants an opportunity to pursue his ultimate objective, which is to play in the NFL.

He is confident playing for Ohio State, which routinely produces NFL talent, will help his chances.

"It's been my main goal since I can remember," Hale said. "I'm not going to quit until I accomplish that. I'll do whatever it takes."

Center Grove coach Eric Moore has no doubt about Hale's pro potential. He's coached several players who've made it to the NFL and is abundantly confident Hale will get there, too.

"Yes, I think he'll play in the NFL," Moore said. "I've had them in that position before play (in the NFL); and skill-wise, he's beyond them already.

"He's very intelligent. He's a great athlete. ... I think he'll get a chance to play on Sunday because of his size and athleticism."

That, and because of a tireless work ethic and leadership qualities that bring out the best in teammates.

"He's the consummate practice guy," Moore said. "He shows effort by example. He talks a lot at practice and encourages people. He's not afraid to get on peoples' butts if he doesn't think they're working up to their capacity, either.

"He practices hard every rep, and that's the bottom line. You love that in a guy. If a guy practices hard, you know he'll play hard."

Though excited about his college future and determined to have his shot at the NFL, Hale's immediate focus is on the Trojans and winning a state championship.

Center Grove, which won the Class 5A title in 2008, won sectional and regional championships last year and enters 2010 a frontrunner for another state crown.

"I've got to focus on what I've got going on here right now," Hale said. "Going into the season, we have a chance to do great things.

"That's our goal, and we've got to see if we can come together and do that and focus on our team."

[/FONT]
 
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Logjam on defensive line?
After missing out on prospects this year, OSU striking gold for 2011
Sunday, June 13, 2010
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

When defensive tackle Joel Hale committed to the Ohio State recruiting class of 2011 last week, he saw it as jumping on an express train about to leave the station.

"The class I am going in with right now is unbelievable," said Hale, from Greenwood, Ind. "We could do some great things, like win Big Ten championships and maybe even the national championship.

"But just the defensive line group I'm going in with - Kenny Hayes, Steve Miller, Michael Bennett, Chase Farris - those are all great players. I look forward to playing with those guys for a while."
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"I never guessed I'd be in the situation I'm in today, and I feel really blessed," Hale said. "I have great respect for Indiana and their coaching staff. I just felt Ohio State was a place where I can excel and do my best."

He became the 14th commitment to the 2011 class, which in recent weeks has added blue-chip quarterback Braxton Miller of Huber Heights Wayne and receiver Evan Spencer - son of former Ohio State running Tim Spencer - of Vernon Hills, Ill. It wasn't only the defensive linemen who lured him, Hale said, it was the class as a whole.

"Once a couple of good players sign on, that's just going to attract other good players," Hale said. "That's because they know how great it could be in their years there. With guys like Braxton Miller and Evan Spencer, those are great players. We could really do something special."
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Ohio State football: Is there a logjam on defensive line? | BuckeyeXtra
 
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Absolutely love a kid from Center Grove. Now this is a young example but I took my 5/6th all star team to a tourney down in Louisville and we played against Center Grove's 5th grade only team. They absolutely shut us down. They played together as one unit and were incrediably smart football players. We beat them 7-0 in OT. I talked to their coaches after the game and they said that's just how they play football at Center Grove, sure reminded me of my Highlands Blue Birds. Welcome aboard Mr. Hale!
 
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Congratulations Mr. Hale! It is very rare you see a kid 6'5 290 and think he actually looks kind of lean, but that is the case w/ Hale. I usually don't look too much at recruiting ranking #'s, but if someone is telling me there are 33 DL prospects better than Joel Hale in the country-they are nuts. You just do not see bodies like his in HS that already weigh 290lbs. 240-260lbs on top prospects-absolutely. 290 and room to row-no way.
 
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Class 5A No. 1 Carmel holds off No. 2 Center Grove - The Indianapolis Star & HighSchoolSports.net

After struggling to move the ball in the second half, Carmel (3-0) carved out an eight-play, 60-yard drive and took a 21-14 lead on a 15-yard run by Devin Brinson with 4 minutes, 28 seconds left. A key play on the go-ahead drive was a 12-yard run by quarterback Scott Stilson on third-and-6 that came with Ohio State recruit and standout defensive tackle Joel Hale on the sideline with an equipment issue.
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