Senior offensive lineman Marcus Hall enters his senior season at Ohio State a
changed man.
Hall’s college career has been an interesting one to say the least. After playing in nine
games as a true freshman in 2009, he was forced to redshirt in 2010 because of academic
struggles. The next season, he started the first five games at right guard before spending
the remaining seven as a backup at left guard.
With the arrival of a new coaching staff in 2012, Hall was faced with a make-or-break
season. Rather than revert to mistakes from the past, Hall accepted the challenges the new
regime presented and put together an impressive junior campaign in which he participated
in 827 of the Buckeyes’ 837 offensive plays as the starter at the right guard position.
“Last season was huge for me,” Hall said. “I had done good things as a freshman and
sophomore, but I also made some bad choices and decisions. I was really happy with the
progress I made.”
Despite drastic improvements as a junior, Hall recognized the need for even greater
development leading into his senior season with the Buckeyes. He attacked the offseason
with gusto, losing 20 pounds thanks to a more responsible diet and dedication to workouts
with the Ohio State strength and conditioning staff.
“It may not seem like a lot of weight, but it makes a world of difference,” Hall said.
“I literally have a weight lifted off
my shoulders and it makes things
on the field so much easier.”
Co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Ed Warinner was one of the first to
notice the drastic change in Hall’s physical abilities and appearance.
“He’s slimmed down. He’s leaner, lower body fat, higher muscle and much quicker – he
really looks quicker,” Warinner said. “The other day I had to yell at him to get a belt on
because his pants, they were falling off of him.”
However, weight loss hasn’t been the most notable transformation the Cleveland native
has made – that has come in his willingness to become a more vocal presence amongst his
teammates and embrace his role as a senior leader for the Buckeyes. Warinner had a firsthand look at Hall’s newfound leadership skills during preseason camp in August.
“Every day after practice I have one of the seniors lead the stretch,” Warinner said. “I
called for one senior to lead the stretch and Marcus was mad I didn’t call for him to lead.
He wanted to be out there leading the unit.”
Changed
Man
Marcus Hall has
undergone a
personal and physical
transformation in his
time at Ohio State
By Ryan Zimmerman, Athletics Communications
Hall will be the first to admit leading a team stretch or speaking up in the huddle is
something he wouldn’t have dreamt of doing in his early years at Ohio State. It has been a
process to get to where he is today, but Hall is happy with the result.
“I had to mature,” Hall said. “I’ve gone from a boy to a man since I first came here. It’s
been great to see myself grow and become a leader of this team. Physically, mentally, I just
feel great about where I am.”
OhioStateBuckeyes.com
73