Multitalented Hall doing it all
Running back is threat as a runner or passer, excels on special teams
Thursday, September 30, 2010
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
NEAL C. LAURON | DISPATCH
Terrelle Pryor pitches the ball to running back Jordan Hall, who in turn tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Pryor, his high school teammate.
Jordan Hall has to rank as one of Ohio State's best recruiting finds, considering the Buckeyes weren't even looking for him.
Coach Jim Tressel and several assistants were at a Jeannette (Pa.) High School basketball game in the winter of 2008, wooing star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, when a 5-foot-9 whirlwind of a point guard caught their eye.
"We were talking to the coach after the game, and I said, 'Man, that point guard is really good,'" Tressel said. "'He's just got eyes everywhere, he dished the ball off, he hit (three-pointers).' And he said, 'Yeah, that's the tailback,' and I said, ' That's the tailback?'"
The tailback was Hall, and Tressel decided he had to have him. He arrived a year after his celebrated Jeannette teammate, in the summer of 2009, but Hall has since begun to make a name for himself, as well.
After getting his feet wet with 48 carries in six games as a freshman, Hall has emerged as one of the surprises of the season for the second-ranked Buckeyes.
He has contributed 72 yards rushing and 57 receiving (and a touchdown), while taking over as the top punt returner and sharing kickoff return duties with Jaamal Berry.
And if that wasn't enough, the coaching staff put him on the kickoff coverage team two weeks ago. Then last week against Eastern Michigan, Hall took a pitch and threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Pryor.
"Jordan can do it all," tailback Brandon Saine said. "I've rarely seen him drop a pass, he doesn't drop punts and he hits seams in that area. Apparently, he can throw, too."
Tressel was simpler in his assessment: "Jordan is just a natural football player," he said.
