Today we highlight another young defensive end that looks like he has a very bright future for the Bulldogs.
22 -- DE Deshon Hall (SO) – Hall signed with Louisiana Tech in the 2019 recruiting cycle East Ascension HS in Gonzales, LA. Hall committed to the Bulldogs in June of 2018 but did not sign early. Tech had to hold off late pushes from TCU and Wisconsin in the late signing period. He even took an official visit to Wisconsin. Hall also held offers from Colorado State, ULL, FIU, Southern Miss, UAB, Tulane, and a few others.
Hall was the only scholarship true freshman to not redshirt in 2019, playing in 9 games. In the 93 pass rushing snaps that Hall played, he produced 6 QB pressures. 4 of those pressures came against Miami in the bowl game. Might that have been his coming out party?
Early on in fall camp was a 3rd or 4th string OLB in Bob Diaco’s new system. He stayed in that role for 4 or 5 weeks before shifting to a true defensive end spot after the injury to La’Dante Davenport. Hall was much more comfortable in that role and quickly found himself on the field in week 7 against UMass and played every week following.
Hall will be a contributor in 2020. How big of a contributor will he be? That’s up to him. If he earns a starting role, perhaps Willie Baker stays at OLB. Otherwise, I expect he’ll spell Baker and Milton Williams at various points.
Hall was 6’3, 240 or so pounds in 2019, so it’s certainly possible that he comes back at 260 or so and is able to play inside at DT in some 4-man fronts. Whatever the case is, Hall is going to be a really good player over the next 3 seasons.
Side Note: The deeper we get into these top 30 players, I realize that Tech has won some recruiting battles with big schools more often than I previously thought. Continue winning and putting players into the NFL and it'll keep happening more and more.
22 -- DE Deshon Hall (SO) – Hall signed with Louisiana Tech in the 2019 recruiting cycle East Ascension HS in Gonzales, LA. Hall committed to the Bulldogs in June of 2018 but did not sign early. Tech had to hold off late pushes from TCU and Wisconsin in the late signing period. He even took an official visit to Wisconsin. Hall also held offers from Colorado State, ULL, FIU, Southern Miss, UAB, Tulane, and a few others.
Hall was the only scholarship true freshman to not redshirt in 2019, playing in 9 games. In the 93 pass rushing snaps that Hall played, he produced 6 QB pressures. 4 of those pressures came against Miami in the bowl game. Might that have been his coming out party?
Early on in fall camp was a 3rd or 4th string OLB in Bob Diaco’s new system. He stayed in that role for 4 or 5 weeks before shifting to a true defensive end spot after the injury to La’Dante Davenport. Hall was much more comfortable in that role and quickly found himself on the field in week 7 against UMass and played every week following.
Hall will be a contributor in 2020. How big of a contributor will he be? That’s up to him. If he earns a starting role, perhaps Willie Baker stays at OLB. Otherwise, I expect he’ll spell Baker and Milton Williams at various points.
Hall was 6’3, 240 or so pounds in 2019, so it’s certainly possible that he comes back at 260 or so and is able to play inside at DT in some 4-man fronts. Whatever the case is, Hall is going to be a really good player over the next 3 seasons.
Side Note: The deeper we get into these top 30 players, I realize that Tech has won some recruiting battles with big schools more often than I previously thought. Continue winning and putting players into the NFL and it'll keep happening more and more.
