RB, Iowa State
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 220 lbs
Class: Junior
Hall was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and the No. 23 ranked running back in the 2019 class. He committed to Iowa State and became a starter as a true freshman. He has since gone from strength to strength, earning All-Big 12 honours in each season and being voted an All-American in 2020 and 2021. Hall enters this year’s draft as one of the best prospects at the position.
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Strengths
Hall’s biggest strength is his vision as a runner. His patience to allow his blocks to develop is excellent and allows him to consistently maximise potential yardage. His processing speed is also evident on wide zone runs, where he has the freedom to read the flow of the defense and cut the run back. Hall’s decision-making in these scenarios is pretty much faultless. This vision carries over to the second level too and Hall is one of the best at navigating defenses in space.
Hall also ticks the box when it comes to his athletic traits. His quick footwork stands out on tape and gives him ideal change of direction ability. He is one of the most fluid running back prospects you’ll find and can alter course without sacrificing much speed. He also possesses the short area quickness you want in an NFL running back, with the explosiveness to hit holes as soon as they open up.
Another big strength to Hall’s game is his work after contact. Whilst he might not be a bruiser between the tackles, he has the uncanny ability to maintain his balance and rarely goes down on first contact. He also has the elusiveness to make defenders miss in space. He forced 74 missed tackles on his 251 carries, which ranked seventh amongst all running backs.
Teams are also going to love Hall’s record of consistent production. He has been a starter since his true freshman year, racking up 3,920 yards in just three seasons with the Cyclones. He has also scored a school record 50 touchdowns in his 36 games. Hall has also featured regularly as a receiver, with at least 20 receptions in each of his three collegiate seasons.
Weaknesses
The main area for improvement for Hall will be his contribution in the passing game. Whilst he has caught plenty of passes in college, a huge amount of his production came on swings and checkdowns. He doesn’t offer much as a route runner and lined up outside the backfield just 37 times over the last two years. This may be more of a scheme issue than a limitation in his skillset, but he needs to show more to be a top tier three down back in the NFL.
The only other concern with Hall is that some of his physical attributes aren’t elite. His long speed is average and might limit his home run potential in the NFL. His play strength is also fairly average and he won’t be a downhill power runner at the next level. That said, he’s solid enough in both areas to translate to the NFL.
Bottom Line
Hall possesses rare vision at the running back position. He is able to consistently create his own yardage and has the elusiveness to make defenders miss in space. He has three years of elite production to his name and he won’t turn 21 until his rookie season. With some development as a receiver he could be a high end starter in the NFL.
Ideal role: Lead back in a zone-heavy running game
Round projection: 2nd round
