Browns pick OSU’S Hall; Stover to Texans
Ohio State defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. was taken by the Cleveland Browns with in the second round (54th overall pick) of the NFL draft on Friday night.
Hall is a native of Streetsboro, which is about 30 miles from Cleveland.
Hall was one of the few Ohio State underclassmen who decided to enter the NFL draft instead of returning for another college season.
He will rejoin several former Buckeye teammates on the Browns. Tackle Dawand Jones, center Luke Wypler and safety Ronnie Hickman were rookies last year. Cleveland also has former OSU cornerback Denzel Ward.
One of the biggest proponents for the Browns to take Hall pre-draft was Ward, another Northeast Ohio native. Hall was asked about playing with Ward, a Nordonia High School graduate, as well as for his hometown team.
“I mean, two Ohio guys growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, is just a great feeling,” Hall said. “We know we’re real familiar with the area and to stay here our whole career, I mean, from Pop Warner to high school, middle school to college, to Ohio State, and then still staying home at the top of the peak of the level. So it’s just great.”
One of the biggest question marks about Hall through the draft process surrounded his size, as he weighs only 290 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame.
“I think when you look at how we play the position and how we ask our guys to get off the ball and how athletic they need to be and how quick they need to be, that’s what Michael is going to bring to the table,” said Browns assistant general manager Catherine Raiche. “I mean, (defensive coordinator) Jim (Schwartz) got on the phone with him, gave him a quiz and he was ready to roll and he is about to be the engine of this defense and, I’m not going to use the words that they used, but let’s just say mess things up in the front there. So I think that’s what he’s going to bring to the table.”
Stover to Texans
Cade Stover will be reunited with quarterback C.J. Stroud, as the Houston Texans selected the Ohio State tight end in the fourth round.
His selection caps an eventful journey for the former Ohio Mr. Football, who played defensive end and linebacker
before settling in at tight end his final two years at Ohio State. Once he found a home, he became a prolific pass-catcher and a team leader. Stover was a twotime captain.
With 41 catches in 2023, Stover had the most receptions for a Buckeye tight end since John Frank in 1981 and ‘83.
Contributing: Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal