2020 NFL Draft: Bryce Hall Faces Tough Test Against Notre Dame
By Dan Matney
Virginia’s Bryce Hall is one of the premiere prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he faces his toughest test of the season Saturday against Notre Dame.
Bryce Hall made a somewhat surprising decision last season when he decided to return to Virginia for his senior season.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior was the nation’s leader in pass deflections in 2018, and his wiry frame is coveted by NFL teams that spend a majority of their time in Cover 3.
Hall faces a Notre Dame offense that is likely the most talented on Virginia’s schedule, and they’re motivated coming off a tough loss to Georgia. Irish quarterback Ian Book won’t exactly dissect a defense from the pocket, but they have a strong passing attack that ranks 25th in the nation in yards per game.
Book’s favorite target, 6-foot-4, 229-pound receiver Chase Claypool, presents an intriguing matchup for Hall. Both players use their size to find a majority of their success downfield, and there’s a good chance that we’ll see these two mix it up in one-on-one drills at the Senior Bowl.
He has good straight-line speed and hits his top gear quickly when he flips his hips and goes vertical. He has enough speed to stay attached to Claypool’s hip pocket in man coverage. Hall knows how to effectively use his length to breaks things up downfield, but Claypool’s strength at the catch point and physical profile are going to make things more difficult.
Hall is instinctive corners when asked to drop into zone coverage. He does a nice job reading the eyes of the quarterback, and he process information quickly. Hall breaks with quickness when the ball comes his way and he’s quick to square up and break down on the ball carrier.
Hall is a good tackler for the position but he’s had some issues consistently finishing with strength in space. He isn’t always the aggressor as a hitter and physical players like Claypool can make you pay if you can’t finish on initial contact. The flashes are there but his ability to limit Claypool’s production will play a vital role in how Saturday’s game plays out.
This matchup should allow scouts to better gauge how Hall holds up against NFL-caliber size, specifically in jump ball situations. Hall isn’t going against Alabama’s loaded group of receivers, but this offers the chance to see how he plays against high-level talent. With a strong showing, which certainly isn’t out of the question, Hall has a chance to continue to solidify himself as a Day 2 prospect at the very least.