After the Seahawks' 2022 season came to an end, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was talking about his team's offseason priorities when he said, "We are going to have to become more dynamic up front, we have to."
Carroll went on to add, "We need guys to be an issue for the opponents."
And with the first of two second-round picks in the 2023 draft, the Seahawks made a step towards achieving that goal, selecting Derick Hall, an outside linebacker out of Auburn.
"A lot of emotions," Hall said on a conference call with Seattle-area media. "It was very, very special for me and my family. We kind of figured that Seattle was really interested, so once that number came across my phone, my face lit up and there were tears of joy. I really enjoy the time being here with my family, so once again, I'm just so thankful."
Hall, who is 6-foot-3, 254 pounds, led Auburn with 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a senior, and also added 60 tackles, an interception and two forced fumbles to earn first-team All-SEC honors. As a junior, Hall had 12.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks, earning second-team All-SEC honors.
Asked to describe his game, Hall said, "Just a great overall guy who is going to put his best foot forward every single day. I feel like I play with a high motor, great attitude, and this game really means a lot to me, so I just really show that love and appreciation, and will continue to do what got me there. I'm looking forward to it, but I am a great, humble guy who is going to come in and bust his butt every single day to help the team get better."
Before going to Auburn, Hall was a three-sport athlete at Gulfport High School in Mississippi, earning All-State honors in football, starting on the basketball team and competing in track and field.
Born four months premature, Hall's miraculous story was documented by NFL 360.
In addition to being highly productive and an all-conference player, Hall also was a leader at Auburn, being voted a captain by his teammates.
"It was very, very special," he said ."At Auburn University, our peers are the ones who get the opportunity to elect their teammates as captains. That was a lot more significant to me to have that, knowing that my teammates picked me to help be a leader on that team. I feel like I am a guy who could be in that role and flourish. I feel like I'm the guy that could help that team get better, just continue to grow, and take that next step as a program, so it was very, very, special for me in that moment."
Outside of football, Hall is an avid outdoorsman and also likes to work on trucks.
"I hunt, I fish, I golf, I bowl, I build trucks. I do a lot of different stuff," he said. "As far as fishing, I catch a lot of trout, redfish, sheepshead, tripletail, red drum. Hunting, I deer hunt. I've never done anything else. I do want to start rabbit hunting. But I've never done anything else. Besides that, I golf, I bowl, and I build trucks."
Take a look at photos of linebacker Derick Hall during his four years at Auburn. Hall was selected by the Seahawks with the 37th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall (29) strips the ball from LSU quarterback TJ Finley (11) while tackling him during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Texas A&M running back Isaiah Spiller (28) is tacked by Auburn linebacker Derick Hall (29) during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall covers a play against Northwestern during the first half of the Citrus Bowl NCAA college football game, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral (2) is pressured by Auburn defensive end Derick Hall (29) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021 in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn edge Derick Hall speaks during NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Days, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Auburn's Derick Hall (29) defends during the second half of an NCAA football game against Mercer on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Auburn's Derick Hall (29) celebrates a tackle for a loss during the second half of an NCAA football game against Mercer on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Auburn's Derick Hall (29) defends during the second half of an NCAA football game against Mercer on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall before the start of an NCAA college football game against Penn State Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall carries the ball after an interception against Missouri during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall (29) carries the ball as Missouri offensive lineman Javon Foster (76) tries to tackle him after an interception during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall (29) lines ip against LSU in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall walks the field before an NCAA college football game against Arkansas Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall reacts after a stop against Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall (29) celebrates with teammates after a win over Western Kentucky during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall participates in a drill during the 2023 Scouting Combine on Thursday, March 2, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall looks on during the 2023 Scouting Combine on Thursday, March 2, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall relaxes during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Auburn linebackers Derick Hall (29) and Eku Leota (55) talk as they wait to bench press during Auburn Pro Day, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn linebacker Derick Hall performs a drill as NFL scouts watch during Auburn Pro Day, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
