Mike Hall originally planned to commit on June 13, but two weeks ago, he decided to shut things down and pledge his services to Ohio State.
A four-star defensive tackle in the class of 2021, Hall became the Buckeyes' 10th commitment for next year's class and the seventh in that class from the state of Ohio.
Once Ohio State offered on Oct. 28, the Buckeyes took the lead in Hall's recruitment and never looked back. Hall visited a month later for the Buckeyes' Nov. 23 game against Penn State and loved his visit to his dream school, but originally, he wanted to wait until his birthday to give his commitment to Ohio State.
When Hall visited the Buckeyes again on the first weekend of February, however, he had a conversation with Ryan Day that made him decide he didn't want to wait any longer.
“I really just had that sit-down talk with Ryan Day and we were just talking about things that Ohio State had to offer,” Hall told Eleven Warriors. “Me and my family had our questions and concerns, and it really just came to an end when we were having that talk. Ryan Day just answered each one of those questions without us even asking. I just felt like it was the place that I wanted to be at and I didn’t really see myself anywhere else. I wanted to stay home.”
I never thought this day would come but on behalf of me and my family I am committed to The Ohio State University...Go Bucks #R2X #Buckeyes @OsuRecruiting17 @Birm @247Sports @AABonNBC @DemetricDWarren @R2X_Rushmen1 @ryandaytime @OhioStateFB @Mark__Porter @rawtalentsport1 pic.twitter.com/VTpXjRdjtn
— . (@MichaelHallJr_) February 1, 2020
Many Buckeye fans recently have been asking why Ohio State does not host big junior day events that bring other programs success, and Hall's experience is exactly why. Day wants the opportunity to speak on a personal level with just about every recruit who visits, especially during the offseason, so he prefers to bring in fewer visitors at a time. Ultimately, the personal connection he made with Hall, as well as Hall's proximity to Columbus and his close relationships with Ohio State's current commits, are what pushed the Buckeyes over the top.
“Those relationships mean a lot,” Hall said. “We are just coming out of this junior class and we are still young, still developing skills and all that. It is just crazy how we all have that bond and we are not even at Ohio State yet so when we get there it is just going to be great. We are just trying to win some national championships.”
One commit who Hall is particularly close with is 2021 four-star offensive tackle Ben Christman, who like Hall is a Northeast Ohio native.
“My relationship with Ben is definitely close,” Hall said. “We talk about getting in some spring workouts and doing some one-on-one drills. It definitely is a brotherhood.”
Even though Ohio State's current group of commitments is heavy on in-state prospects, Hall is building connections with prospects from across the country as well, and he mentioned one specific player who he is recruiting to join him in Columbus.
“We are still recruiting guys all across the country like (2021 five-star defensive end) Tunmise Adeleye and a couple of other defensive tackles,” Hall said. “Just still trying to work on the class, it is great.”
Although he originally planned to keep his recruitment open for four more months, he's glad to have it done and his future set to be a Buckeye.
“It was definitely a dream school of mine,” Hall said of Ohio State. “Growing up in Cleveland, you always watch the Buckeyes like J.T. Barrett, Ezekiel Elliott and all those guys. It is definitely a great place and close to home.”
