Leon Hall

Leon Hall

No. 29     Cincinnati Bengals
Cornerback
Personal information
Date of birth: December 9, 1984 (1984-12-09)
Place of birth: Oceanside, California
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	Weight: 199 lb (90 kg)
Career information
College: Michigan
NFL Draft: 2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: 18
Debuted in 2007 for the Cincinnati Bengals
Career history
Cincinnati Bengals (2007–present)
Roster status: Injured Reserve
Career highlights and awards
All-Pro (2009) Consensus All-American (2006) First-team All-Big Ten (2006) College awards and honors
Career NFL statistics as of Week 13, 2011
Tackles	290
Sacks	0.0
INTs	20
Pass deflections	78
Stats at NFL.com
Stats at pro-football-reference.com

Leon Lastarza Hall (born December 9, 1984) is an American football defensive back who plays for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Michigan, and earned consensus All-American honors. Hall was drafted by the Bengals with the 18th pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. He is currently considered one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.

Early years

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

College career

Hall attended the University of Michigan, and played for the Michigan Wolverines football team. As a freshman, he 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.

College awards and honors

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)

Professional career career

2007 NFL Draft

After posting 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 was expected to start alongside Johnathan Joseph, who was drafted by Cincinnati a year before, and veteran corner Deltha O'Neal.

Cincinnati Bengals

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. 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.

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. In the 2008 season, Hall continued to improve as he tallied 75 tackles (61 solo), 24 pass break-ups, three interceptions and a touchdown. Hall tied the franchise record by nabbing 3 interceptions came week 16 game against the Cleveland Browns returning one for a 50-yard touchdown. At season's end, Hall was praised by the Bengals' defensive back coach Kevin Coyle for his improvement .

In 2009, Hall continued to elevate his game as he recorded 71 tackles (58 solo), 2 forced fumbles, 24 pass break-ups and a career-high in interceptions with 6. Late in the season, Sports Illustrated writer Peter King called and Hall and Joseph "the best cornerback tandem in the NFL."

After the season, USA Today named Hall to their annual "All-Joe" team after he wasn't voted to the Pro Bowl despite his standout play.

On November 8, 2010, Hall's then teammate Terrell Owens gave him the nickname "Mr. Cause-a-fumble."

On September 2, 2011 Hall signed a 4 year contract extension worth $39 Million with $14.1 guaranteed. On November 13, Hall injured his achilles tendon in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the following day he was placed on injured reserve.

External links

• Cincinnati Bengals bio