Posted 05-19-03
With much deserved attention around recently NFL signed ex-Warrior Rodney Michael, another “Michael” (Michael Hall) recently finished a stellar career in the college ranks at the University of Illinois.
An opportunity to play sports on the collegiate level signifies a desire to strive for excellence. In the many talents that 1999 Tehachapi High Alumni Michael Hall did have, confidence in himself and his abilities were certainly trademarks.
In high school, Hall was a standout wide receiver and defensive back for the Warriors, enjoying one of the better receiving careers ever by a Tehachapi player, posting 46 receptions in the 1997 and 1998 seasons collectively, with 1,097 total yards and 12 touchdowns, good for All-South Sequoia League first team honors both years.
“I enjoyed my time in high school, coach (Steve) Denman and the rest of the coaching staff were there for me emotionally and it helped me give my all every time I stepped on the field,” said Hall. “They taught me early on the importance of a team.”
Initially thought under-sized by college scouts, Hall didn’t have the luxury of putting the doubters to rest like other talented prospects from high schools like Mater Dei, Concord-De La Salle, or Bishop-Amat, even though the young star belonged among the nation’s elite simply on his proven oversized passion for football.
With no scholarship letters coming Hall’s way, Warrior coach Steve Denman made a call to long time friend Bakersfield College coach Dallas Grider on the talented wideout’s behalf.
“College scouts might have thought that Michael was a bit undersized coming out of high school, but we knew he had heart and could play the game well, particularly on defense, and that’s why we interested initially,” said Grider.
When Hall stepped onto the Bakersfield Renegade field, players and coaches alike knew immediately that an impact player was among them for the next two seasons.
“We thought the world of Michael when he was a Renegade,” said Grider. “He was a player that was blessed with great feet, strong work ethic, and tremendous heart. Everyone at BC was extremely proud of the success that he had on the field with us and the leadership presence he gave.”
Hall was one of the most decorated defensive backs ever at his tenure at Bakersfield College, earning All-WSC (Western State Conference) and National All-America honors at his position, picking off 15 passes from Renegade opponents during the 1999-2000 seasons, while also logging in 57 tackles his second year. In the 2000 season, Hall was also selected as most valuable player of the team while registering defensive most valuable player honors in the Potato Bowl.
“The awards were real satisfying, I played as hard as I could when I was at Bakersfield College because I knew that I wanted to keep playing when my two years were up,” Hall said.
Finishing his first two years of college eligibility at Bakersfield, the Tehachapi High Alumni was considered one of the top cornerbacks in the nation, and had full scholarship offers to attend Illinois, Washington State University, Oregon State, Oregon, San Diego State, Colorado, and Brigham Young University, before finally deciding on the Fighting Illini.
The next two years would give Illinois a solid vocal leader along with immediate depth at one of the most crucial positions in defensive back, having to fend off the passing attacks of the likes of Michigan State, Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana in the Big Ten Conference. Hall would finish fourth on the team in 2001 with 11 pass deflections, while also recording his first D-I collegiate interception against Minnesota in October of that year. His first start of his career came against Louisville, where he registered five tackles against the Cardinals.
“Everyone at Tehachapi was extremely proud of Mike and the accomplishments that he achieved after high school,” said a prideful Warrior Coach Steve Denman. “To have a guy like Mike do so well in Tehachapi, junior college, and the University of Illinois…that just says a lot for the kind of character that this young man has.”
The 2002 season at Illinois, the Fighting Illini benefited from two Hall interceptions, which led the entire team in his final season. Hall was also fourth on the team with 55 tackles, including two for a loss, while highlighting his career with a 30-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Southern Mississippi University the second week of the 2002 season.
“Illinois was hard at first because it was so far away from home, but I had good support from my teammates on and off the field. They wanted me to achieve my goals as much as I did, and that meant a lot to me personally,” said Hall.
With college athletics officially over, Hall has been busy finishing up coarse work for a sports management degree at Illinois, and hopes to pursue an internship in the sports field in the summer. Hall has also signed a sports agent to assist in the possibility of pursing a free agent opportunity in the NFL or the Arena Football League should any interested teams come calling.
“For me personally, college is over,
but I’m still going to keep going strong and fight for opportunities,” Hall
explained. “People will always say that you can’t do this or that…but I
never bought into that line of thinking. I’m going to keep going strong.”
Former Warrior Michael Hall #8, leads the Fighting Illini down the tunnel for a Big 10 game in 2002
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