Leon Hall

Infobox NFLactive


|currentteam=Cincinnati Bengals
currentnumber=29
currentposition=Cornerback
birthdate=birth date and age|1984|12|9
birthplace=Vista, California
heightft=5
heightin=11
weight=199
debutyear=2007
debutteam=Cincinnati Bengals
college=Michigan
draftyear=2007
draftround=1
draftpick=18
pastteams=
* Cincinnati Bengals (2007-present)
nfl=HAL432931

Leon Lastarza Hall (born December 9, 1984 in Vista, California) is an American football defensive back who plays for the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football at the University of Michigan. Hall was drafted by the Bengals with the 18th pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Hall attended Vista High School where he played wide receiver and defensive back. He played in the 2003 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

College career

As a freshman at Michigan, Leon Hall played in all 13 of his team's games and made three starts. He finished the year with 26 tackles and three interceptions. Hall was a first-team All-American freshman.

In his sophomore season, Hall once again played all the Wolverines' games, making nine starts. Hall totaled 48 tackles, two interceptions, and recovered two fumbles.

In 2005, Hall started all 12 games on the Michigan schedule, registering 61 tackles, two sacks, four interceptions, a forced fumble, and one recovered fumble. He was named to the All-Big Ten Conference Second Team.

Hall started all 13 games as a senior in 2006. He intercepted three passes including one against the Notre Dame and another against the cross-state rival Michigan State. Hall led the Big Ten in pass breakups with 18, tying Michigan record set by Marlin Jackson in 2002, and recorded 35 tackles. Hall was a unanimous choice for the All-Big Ten Conference First Team and contended for a number of national awards. He was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, and a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy. Hall also was first team AFCA All-American.

Hall is Michigan's all-time leader with 43 passes broken up. He is tied for fourth on Michigan's career interception list with 12, and set a school record with an 83-yard fumble return against Northwestern in 2005.

He was a general studies major at Michigan.

National awards

* 2003 Freshman All-American first team
* 2006 Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist
* 2006 Jim Thorpe Award finalist
* 2006 Lott Trophy quarterfinalist

Conference honors

* 2004 All-Big Ten Conference Honorable Mention (coaches and media)
* 2005 All-Big Ten Conference Second Team (coaches and media)
* 2006 All-Big Ten Conference First Team (coaches and media, both unanimous)

Pro career

After providing an impressive 40 time of 4.38 seconds at the NFL Combine, Hall was drafted in the first round (18th overall) in the 2007 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Hall is expected to start alongside Johnathan Joseph, who was drafted by Cincinnati a year before, and veteran corner Deltha O'Neal. On July 29, 2007, Hall was signed by the Bengals to a five-year deal for near $13.6 million overall, with $8.2 million dollars guaranteed.http://www.mlive.com/sportsflash/football/index.ssf?/base/sports-24/1185711242202730.xml&storylist=michigannfl] During practice in Georgetown, Kentucky, Hall was said to have made a big impact. A big hit on receiver Reggie McNeal was only one of his three tackles in the 64-minute scrimmage. Sports Illustrated writer Peter King said that Hall was going to be an immediate impact rookie in the secondary after watching one of the Bengals' training camps. [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/peter_king/07/30/bengals.postcard/index.html SI.com - Writers - Training camp postcard: Bengals - Tuesday July 31, 2007 11:42AM ] ]

In the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, Hall had a breakout performance as the starting corner position with four tackles and a fumble recovery. Hall finished the 2007 season as the interception leader with 5, tying a Bengals record for most interceptions recorded in a rookie season.

External links

* [http://mgoblue.com/bio.cfm?bio_id=2138&section_id=258&top=2&level=3&season=983 Michigan football profile]

References