NFL Draft Preview: Leon Hall

Leon's last game at Michigan provided moments like this. I shut my eyes but it's STILL THERE!

Let's stay in the defensive secondary and move over to the corner position. It's another Michigan defender who was last seen with scorch marks on his back from Dwayne Jarrett in the Rose Bowl (and no I'm not bitter).

Name: Leon Hall

Position: Cornerback

School: Michigan

Pros: Apparently (according to his ability to run in a shirt and shorts) very very fast. Good hands for a corner. High football IQ. Went to Michigan.

Cons: Didn't show his apparent speed at times during actual games. Takes chances that sometimes leads to him getting torched.

Completely Unbiased Synopsis: I really like Leon. He played very well at times during his four years at Michigan. That being said there are some things that worry me about his transition to the NFL. He has the tendency to get burned against fast receivers, but some of that can be attributed to screw ups by his safeties who were supposed to give help over the top. Hopefully in the NFL he will start out as the number two corner on his team and won't have to deal with matchups against the opposition's best receiver. He has great ball instincts and when the ball is thrown his way usually has a good read and is able to make a play on the ball in some way. He is also very good against the run. He's a sure tackler and has the ability to take running backs one one one. He also has good hands for a corner and doesn't really drop many interceptions, which in the NFL is pretty big. People were worried about his top end speed (especially after that shaky Rose Bowl) but ran a 4.37 at the combine which quelled that doubt (and made him a lot of money in the process). I would still be worried about the fact that he looked slow at times during actual games, but he was still a very good college corner.

Where He's Headed: Leon could go as high as seven if the Vikings decide that he's a better prospect than LaRon Landry, but I think his most likely destination would be Houston where he would be paired up with Dunta Robinson to make a pretty good young cornerback tandem.

BOLD PREDICTION: Leon goes to Houston and becomes a good NFL corner. I don't think he's going to go to many Pro Bowls (if any) but he will benefit from not having to be "the guy" in the Texan's defensive backfield and therefore won't have to cover the opposing teams best receiver.

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NFL Draft Preview: Leon Hall

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