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Breece Hall NFL Draft Profile
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Breece Hall Scouting ReportBreece has a well-built frame, and he has solid long speed for his size. He’s also undoubtedly explosive, possessing excellent short-area burst, both laterally and vertically. He can elongate spaces, but he makes the most of smaller spaces and opportunities in crowded areas. He has solid natural elusiveness, which allows him to create for himself to some capacity. He’s an instinctive mover in congestion, whose strong footwork and loose hips allow him to stay on his feet and continually analyze available space. Breece can sink his hips and burst forward when changing directions. He has undeniable twitch, and he transfers weight very well. His explosiveness is best in short areas, but it can extend well down the field. That burst allows Hall to clear holes and get into space, where his skill set shines. Breece does have one standout trait that amplifies his profile; vision. His vision stands out as one of his defining traits. He is fairly consistent picking out lanes through which to explode. With this vision, he found space with an incredible consistency in 2020. Beyond the line, Hall owns exceptional full-field vision at the second level. With his combined vision and natural elusiveness, Hall can manipulate angles and methodically extend his runs. Breece owns a formidable stiff arm, and he has some measured contact balance, although he’s not elite there. Additionally, Hall is a decent blocker and has proven himself to be a competent receiver out of the backfield. Over two years, he has 46 catches for 432 yards and 3 touchdowns. He’s shiftier after the catch, and that extra dimension gives him even more long-term upside. |
Areas for ImprovementHall has a well-sized frame, but he’s not overly powerful. Despite his statistical production, he’s not quite as physical as advertised. The Iowa State RB doesn’t drive through defenders consistently, and he can also be more consistent with his contact balance. Hall’s size isn’t a hindrance, so there’s a chance he could add a more physical element to his game. Nevertheless, as it stands, his style features more finesse than force. Hall can sometimes play himself off balance when trying to elude. He is not an elite natural creator. He does not have the elite stop and start ability or the tackle breaking capacity one would expect. He is prone to occasional missed lane when using his vision behind the offensive line. He can also be tentative and indecisive. He does not quite have the physicality to compensate when that happens.
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Breece Hall Career at SchoolIowa State got the memo when they saw Hall’s high school stat sheet. They threw him right into the fire as a true freshman, and he thanked them for it. Hall played in 12 games in his first collegiate season and started the final seven contests. Over that span, he amassed 897 yards and 9 scores on 186 carries. On top of that, he caught 23 passes for 252 yards and another score. Hall was named a first-team Freshman All-American for his production in 2019, but that was only a warm-up. In 2020, Hall legitimately exploded onto the CFB scene, barreling through Big 12 defenses to the tune of 1,572 yards and 21 touchdowns on 279 carries. He was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and was a first-team All-American at his position. Hall isn’t the first highly-esteemed running back in his family. Peculiarly, he’s cousins with 60-year-old Roger Craig, the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 1988. His stepfather, Jeff Smith, was also an NFL running back. Hall isn’t the first, but can he be the best? We won’t know the answer to that for some time, but a strong 2021 campaign can give him the launch he needs to the professional level. |
Breece Hall NFL Draft Player ProfileHe’s intelligent, elusive, explosive, and he has the size to keep building on his athletic foundation. He also has enough contact balance to extend runs. Nevertheless, Hall’s physicality doesn’t show up with enough consistency to anoint him the top player at his position. Much of Hall’s work is done before direct contact. He can extend runs beyond that point, but he’s not yet elite in that category. He doesn’t quite have the uncanny corrective athleticism against direct contact that other prospects have possessed in the past. Having said that, one of Hall’s best traits is that he can avoid direct contact with his burst, vision, and change-of-direction ability. But workhorse backs in the NFL have to be able to extend runs past contact. Hall is still good there, but he isn’t quite where he needs to be in that area. Nonetheless, the Iowa State RB is a strong prospect, and his junior season will be a valuable opportunity to keep improving.
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