Steelers fan Hall shifts gear

By MIKE McLAIN

sports@vindy.com

BEREA

Darrin Hall was raised in a household that would have no problem rocking black-and-gold color combinations.

“I grew up a Steelers fan,” said Hall, a standout running back at Austintown Fitch High School and the University of Pittsburgh. “My dad was Steelers. My mom was Steelers. So by family members I ended up becoming [a] Steelers [fan].”

While Steelers blood might run through Hall’s veins, it’s not so thick that he would never consider breaking family ties. The fact he ended up in the enemy’s household as a Browns rookie free agent could be considered surprising.

“When you put on this jersey, everything changes,” Hall said Friday moments before participating in a rookie minicamp.

On a deeper dive into Hall’s trek from Pitt to Cleveland, the move makes all the sense in the world. The chance to make the Browns roster was something he couldn’t turn down.

The selling point came during a phone call Hall had last weekend with Browns coach Freddie Kitchens. Given Kitchens’ method of operation is based on brutal honesty, it would appear Hall might need to find a residence in the area.

“Freddie said, ‘We like you. I watched you play in the Senior Bowl,’ and he watched my practices at the Senior Bowl,” Hall said. “You come out and compete, work hard and you’re sharp, you have a chance to make this team, and he truly believed that.”

The situation in the running backs room is interesting, and it will get even more intriguing at the midpoint of the regular season.

Nick Chubb, the best rookie back in the NFL not named Saquon Barkley last year, is a lock as the featured back.

Kareem Hunt, signed this year after being waived by Kansas City because of an off-the-field incident, will be eligible to play after serving an eight-game suspension.

Duke Johnson would provide relief for Chubb the first eight games, but he knows his time will be limited once Hunt returns. Perhaps because of that eventuality, Johnson has requested a trade and isn’t participating in offseason work.

If Johnson is moved, the door swings open for a third back. Enter Hall, a 5-foot-11, 225-pound back with 4.5 speed in the 40. He rushed for 1,144 yards and 10 touchdowns on 153 carries splitting time with Qadree Ollison as a senior last year.

Hall wasn’t invited to the NFL scouting combine but was impressive at Pitt’s pro day when he benched 225 pounds 27 times.

“The amount of effort I put into the weight room goes unnoticed,” Hall said. “We lift [here] this afternoon. They’ll see me get after it, and it will be a plus for me.”

Fitch coach Phil Annarella watched the pro day. He was impressed by many aspects of Hall’s performance, including his footwork.

“He caught the ball well,” Annarella said. “I was talking to [Pitt coach] Pat [Narduzzi], and he thought he might get drafted. Like I had told him [Hall]. It’s better to sign as a free agent. You get to pick the team you want to go to instead of going to a team where you don’t have a shot.”

Fitch had a successful run during Hall’s time there. Unfortunately, he missed the last six games of his senior season in 2014 after suffering a meniscus tear against Boardman.

The injury hasn’t been a problem since then, and he’s as ready as he’ll ever be for the challenge that began Friday. The workout of a little more than 90 minutes was basically a passing camp. Hall had a few rough moments, but Kitchens isn’t worried.

“He had a couple of dropped balls today, which is uncharacteristic of him,” Kitchens said. “Sometimes you have to evaluate these guys mentality — they’re swimming a little bit — and how that affects their skill set. I think he’s in that mix right now. He’ll probably do a lot of studying tonight.”

The passing game wasn’t stressed much at Pitt.

“I can work on everything,” Hall said. “I had success in the senior games [Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine] showing I could catch the ball out of the backfield. I can win my one-on-one routes.”

That’s what Kitchens wants to hear and see.