Virginia Tech football: 9 days til kickoff with a look back at Vince Hall

Today is August 22, 2019, which means we are nine short days away from the Virginia Tech Hokies opening the college football season at Boston College. Yesterday, we profiled the great Frank Loria, one of the best football players in Virginia Tech history. For No. 9, we look back at Vince Hall.

Hall arrived at Virginia Tech back in 2003 from Western Branch High School in Chesapeake. A four-star prospect, Hall was a central part of that recruiting class along with Xavier Adibi and Chris Ellis. Along with Adibi, Hall redshirted in 2003.

The Hokies entered the ACC in 2004 and Hall entered the starting lineup. Along with Mikal Baaqee and James Anderson, Hall started at linebacker for the Hokies. A true freshman, Hall played in every game, making 12 starts. He finished second on the team with 64 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, one sack and one forced fumble.

In 2005, Hall remained in the starting lineup with Anderson, while Adibi joined them to form an outstanding trio for Bud Foster. Hall started every game and led the Hokies in tackles with 112. Hall also added 8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions. He added 15 quarterback hits for good measure, not a bad number for a mike linebacker.

As a junior in 2006, Hall once again led the Hokies in tackles with 128, tackles for loss with 10.5 and chipped in two sacks. He also forced two fumbles. He was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2006.

In 2007, Hall and Adibi again patrolled the middle of Foster’s defense for the Hokies. Unfortunately, an injury would cost Hall four games during his senior season. He still started 10 games for the Hokies and finished second on the team in tackles with 100. He also finished with 6.5 tackles, 3.5 sacks and an interception.

A knee injury affected Hall’s preparation for the NFL Combine and he went undrafted. He spent some time with the St. Louis Rams and Buffalo Bills for about two years before his NFL career ended in 2010.

For any player to start four years for a Bud Foster defense speaks volumes. Hall was tremendous. He and Adibi were my favorite pair of linebackers to watch over the years. They were smart, fast, instinctive players who dominated against the run and were outstanding in the passing game, too. Hall, much like Adibi, looks like a future Virginia Tech Hall-of-Famer.