Great Pick Up! Left Tackle for the future.
ROANOKE, Va. One of the nations quietest football prospects, at least when it comes to dealing with media, made his college decision in the most appropriate manner Thursday night.
Tennessee lineman commit Chance Hall, a three-star 2015 prospect from Northside High School in Roanoke, Va. (govols247 photo)
Rather than put on a show, three-star lineman Chance Hall stayed true to his quiet nature by simply putting a Tennessee hat on his head to announce his commitment to the Vols.
The 6-foot-5, 290-pound, two-day lineman from Roanoke Northside High School eventually had to speak, though. And when that happened, he said he was so happy to be the 19th known commitment in Tennessees 2015 class a class thats now rated No. 8 nationally in the 247Sports Team Recruiting Rankings.
Ive been to Tennessee three or four times, and after each time, I just felt more and more comfortable, and Ive had a lot of good communication with the coaches and some of the players there, said Hall, who chose the Vols over more than 20 other offers, including Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and in-state powers Virginia Tech and Virginia. And I love the fan support there and the atmosphere. And I want to play big-time football, and the SEC is the best conference.
Halls desire to play in the SEC ultimately brought his decision down to Tennessee and in-state rival Vanderbilt, and Hall called choosing the Vols a tough but ultimately correct decision.
Probably the ones it came down to were Tennessee and Vanderbilt, Hall said. Vanderbilt (was a finalist) because of the education. Its just top-notch. But I ruled that out with Tennessee, just because I loved the atmosphere there and, you know, its big-time football.
Hall cited his very good relationship with Vols head coach Butch Jones, defensive line coach Steve Stripling and offensive line coach Don Mahoney a very big factor in his decision. He also cited a close relationship with 2014 Tennessee signee Coleman Thomas, a good friend of Halls whos from just down the highway in Max Meadows and is currently on track to start as a true freshman for the Vols.
The coaches had a big part to do with my decision, Hall said. I talked to them probably once a week. Just talking on the phone and visiting with them, Ive gotten really close with them.
And Coleman Thomas, Ive known him for a while. We met at a (local all-star team) photo shoot this past year, before he went down there, so weve been texting a lot, talking about it and everything. He played a big role in my decision.
Hall decided to commit to Tennessee on Wednesday night and went public with the news Thursday night at his high school.
Im very firm in my decision. Its been tough. Im not gonna lie, its been very tough. But Im happy with my decision. Tennessee is the place for me.
Hall is a versatile lineman who has played both sides of the ball in high school, and hes currently ranked by 247Sports as the nations No. 31 defensive tackle prospect. But some schools including Tennessee seem to prefer him as an offensive tackle prospect, and Hall said he had a slight preference toward offense.
They want me for both, but I kind of want to play offensive line, Hall said when asked where Tennessees coaches want him to play. But last year was my first year playing offensive line, so I need to work on my techniques and stuff like that a lot so I can get in there and play early.
I just want to play. Whatevers gonna me on the field is fine, but I guess I would enjoy playing offensive line a little better.
Hall smiled when asked why he preferred offensive line.
I just like pancakes, I guess, he said.
Hall said hes 100 percent committed to the Vols, and Northside coach Burt Torrence confirmed that, saying he doesnt allow his players to decommit from any college program unless that college pulls the players scholarship offer.
Torrence said that wont be an issue with Hall, though.
Not with him. No, no, no, Torrence said. Chances parents did a great job raising him. He knows how important it is to stand by your word.
Hall said he told himself that any commitment he made would be it, and that once he chose Tennessee on Wednesday night, he essentially ended his recruiting process.
I was always going to decide sometime over the summer, Hall said. I knew I wanted to narrow it down and decide over the summer. I just felt like ... I had the urge, you know? I knew what my top schools were. I knew I was ready.
Tennessee felt like home. It felt like I could be a part of a family there.
BOOM!
:dance2:
Tennesseeduke
