Michigan CB Aamir Hall reflects on transition from FCS
ANN ARBOR – Michigan Wolverines graduate cornerback Aamir Hall saw the blueprint laid out last season by Josh Wallace transferring up to a big-time program. Wallace transferred in from UMass and become one of the defense’s most underappreciated heroes during its run to the national title last year.
The template has been set, and Hall wanted to get a taste of that type of experience, too. So when Michigan added him in the transfer portal this spring, Hall watched what Wallace was able to do and wanted to find ways to achieve similar success.
“It was really cool what he did last year coming up and being on the national championship team,” Hall said on Tuesday night. “He was a very big piece of what Michigan did last year. So I paid attention a lot to what he did on the field… I play my game and we have two different skill sets, but I did watch what he did.”
Hall, who has 17 total tackles and 2 passes defended and started last week, was an FCS All-American last season at Albany with 57 total tackles, five interceptions and 13 passes defended along with a forced fumble. Prior to that, he spent three season at Richmond. He reflected on the biggest different between the levels of competition.
“It’s just honestly the speed of the game and then the physicality has been taking a step up,” Hall said. “And it’s been really good, like, honestly, prepares me and has developed me a lot since I’ve been here.
“I knew that’s the challenge that I was looking for. And honestly, like coming here, I feel like I wasn’t — I didn’t really know what to expect, but I knew there was going to be a challenge, and I feel like I’ve been handling it pretty well.”
Michigan has worked on cross-training its defensive backs, and in Hall’s case that means playing both the outside and inside cornerback positions. It’s that versatility he hopes can help prepare him for the next level.
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“I’ve played boundary corner for most of my career, and here I’ve played both field and boundary,” Hall said. “And honestly, that’s helped me develop my game totally on just a versatility level and just being in more so NFL defense (with) Wink Martindale coming down to college football. I’ve learned a lot, and feel like that will prepare me for the next level.”
Michigan’s secondary and pass defense has been a work in progress all season long, but has shown improvement since returning from the Oct. 12 bye weekend. Hall says it all started with an increased level of intensity in their preparation.
“Just the level of urgency,” Hall said. “Coming in, we knew we had a really good defensive line, and they will, honestly, carry us through the season (and) help us win games. But the challenge is on us to challenge the receivers and just the different skill groups that come in. I feel like we’re taking on that challenge from early on in the season until now.”
Michigan’s next challenge comes on Saturday in the form of a showdown with the No. 1 Oregon Ducks. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
