Terrell Hall to Alabama: Crimson Tide Land 4-Star DE Prospect

Class of 2016 4-star defensive end Terrell Hall, who withdrew his commitment to the Ohio State Buckeyes in August, announced on Wednesday that he will play college football at Alabama.

Brandon Parker of the Washington Post provided a video of the announcement: 

Hall is the sixth-ranked weak-side defensive end prospect in the country and the 64th-best recruit overall in the 2016 class, according to 247Sports.

The 6'5", 250-pound product of St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C., possesses the type of body and skills that can help him make an immediate impact for Alabama.

To go with his incredible measurements, Hall has the raw skills and instincts to be a productive college player. He has a knack for placing his hands in the proper place to fight off blockers and disengage, rarely leaving himself out of position.

Hall is always around the football thanks to his massive reach and innate ability, but he does have good technique for someone whose athletic skills allowed him to dominate high school competition. Hall's discipline versus the run and ability to diagnose plays and react quickly stand out.

Thanks to his quick first step and exceptional acceleration, offensive linemen have difficulty handling Hall as a pass-rusher as well.

The Crimson Tide could use help on their defensive front seven. They lost A'Shawn Robinson, Jarran Reed and Reggie Ragland from their national championship team to the 2016 NFL draft, yet coach Nick Saban has a deep stable of players to pull from thanks to his loaded recruiting classes.

There's at least some chance Hall could jump into the rotation at defensive end and have an impact as a situational player. Starting right away in the SEC, especially in Tuscaloosa, would be quite an achievement, but it's more likely Hall will yield to incumbent edge players this coming year. 

Hall could stand to add a few moves to his arsenal, but the 17-year-old already has great bend—and the coaching Hall will receive from Alabama should help him hone the finer points of his game.

Although he isn't quite as hyped as the 5-star recruits in his class, Hall's ceiling is high. If he continues on his current trajectory, he can be a multiyear starter for Alabama as a force on the edge.

If he realizes his potential, Hall may become a dominant player and emerge as one of the biggest stars from the 2016 class as a junior or senior.