Derick Hall Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Larry Robinson/The Auburn Plainsman)

School: Auburn (Senior)

Position: EDGE

HT: 6’3

WT: 251 lbs

Sideline Prospect Ranking: #24

Derick Hall is a physical freak. His length and size is something that immediately stands out. He has 34 ¾ inch arms which places him in the 99 percentile, while his wingspan of 83 inches places him in the 96 percentile. Some players have better physical gifts and traits than others and do not know how to use them, however, Hall uses his length, speed, and physicality to his advantage on every single snap. In a stint at Auburn where the program had no identity or rhythm, Hall was the lone bright spot on the team. He made NFL level tackles look silly week in and week out. Look no further than the Iron Bowl to see Derick Hall absolutely punish any tackle that stood in his way. He is able to stay low and use his hands to drive up on blockers in order to shed blocks and gain forward momentum. In addition to being a fantastic stand-up edge rusher, Hall also is an extremely effective run defender. When rushing, he has great change-of-direction ability and is able to locate and read the ball well. His straight line speed contributes to him being able to attack the ball carrier once he makes the read. If Hall works himself too far up the field, he has the speed to make the chasedown tackle before too much damage is done. Hall is also extremely bendy off the edge. A combination of staying low, and holding the bend with length to shed blocks in pursuit is what makes him so effective in both the pass rush and run defense. The last component to his game is his pass coverage ability. While he will likely never be the guy to play man coverage against tight ends in the slot, he is very effective when dropping back into shallow zones. He reads the quarterback's eyes well and was even rewarded with an interception this past season.

Hall just needs to become a more polished player. While he is a senior, he is still a raw pass rusher. I believe he could come into the NFL and be a positive run defender, but he needs to add more to his pass rushing game. He doesn’t showcase any pass rush moves, and rather he just relies on his bend and size to shed blocks. If he can add a spin, swim, or arm chop to his pass rushing repertoire, he will be much more effective at the next level. Lastly, while he is bendy, he still has extremely stiff hips. This is something I believe that can be adjusted with professional level coaching.

Derick Hall has all of the tools to become a successful edge rusher in the league. If he is developed properly and he works on his technique and flexibility, he will unlock a whole new level to his game.

Scheme Fit: Odd Front with blitz tendencies

Ideal Role: Stand-Up EDGE

Best Team Fits: GB, ARI, CAR