Mike Hall Jr. 'very eager to learn' as he continues through 1st Browns training camp

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Mike Hall Jr. was the hometown kid who realized a dream when the Cleveland Browns selected him in April's draft.

Hall , the Streetsboro High School graduate and Ohio State defensive tackle , was picked by the team he grew up rooting for with the No. 54 overall pick in the second round . Since that April night, it's been a whirlwind that's given him plenty of highlights.

"I would definitely say the Cavs game for sure, and then I did the Monsters game, threw out the first puck," Hall said earlier last Saturday during training camp at The Greenbrier. "So that was, I mean, just definitely a great feeling. A kid from Cleveland was just the best feeling ever."

The Browns, though, didn't draft Hall to just be trotted out at area events and wave to the crowd. What they ultimately hope he becomes is a player who resides in the opposition's backfield on Sundays in the fall.

The process to become that, however, is less about dropping pucks at minor-league hockey games and picking up the intense grind that is life as an NFL player. That grind requires a commitment level that often can be the point of delineation which separates those who make it in the NFL and those who fail.

If Hall had a piece of himself that he believes has been forced to improve, it falls into that category.

"I mean, I would just say my work ethic," Hall said. "I mean, my work ethic has increased by far for sure. Especially just being around these guys and, you know what I'm saying, just my hunger has just been built."

Hall did have a minor hiccup at the start of this week. He and fellow former Ohio State Buckeye Dawand Jones both missed Monday's camp practice, with no official reasons given for their absences.

Both players were back on the field for Tuesday's workout, which was adjust until mid-afternoon due to thunderstorms in the area. They didn't miss time the rest of the week.

That absence was the only one for either through the first week. It wasn't enough to take down coach Kevin Stefanski's opinion of his rookie and the work that's been put in since draft night.

“Mike’s done a really nice job," Stefanski said Monday. "As you guys know, Mike’s a young man, but he’s got some wisdom to him. Very impressed with how he carries himself, very impressed with how he is in the meeting rooms, in the weight room, out there on the field. He takes his job seriously. So, I think Mike’s done a nice job.”

The missed practice was the only real blemish on Hall's first NFL training camp. It's not this camp, per se, where the Browns need him to be ready to go from the first day.

Hall is in a defensive line room were young blood is a welcomed, but not necessarily needed. At least, it wasn't when the rookies reported on July 22 for camp.

However, the Browns have lost veteran defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson for some time after he had arthroscopic knee surgery, although they do still hope to have him back for the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Another veteran, Shelby Harris, did not practice this week due to an injury.

That could mean Hall is needed sooner rather than later. That only accelerates the learning curve, which he's tried to do by listening to players like Tomlinson.

"I mean, the day I got drafted, he texted me right after, so just already getting that feel for him, you know what I'm saying?" Hall said of Tomlinson. "Just an outgoing person. It is just an unfortunate situation that happened, but he's going to be back and I can't wait for him to be back, praying for his speedy recovery. But, just like I said before, just very eager to learn. He's played a long time in his league."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Mike Hall Jr. 'very eager to learn' as he continues through 1st Browns training camp