The Ravens invested in several new defensive linemen this offseason, but one of their old defensive linemen is now a new man.
Former defensive tackle Bryan Hall dropped 45 pounds to prepare for a switch to inside linebacker, which could help him hang around. Ravens coach John Harbaugh suggested the switch this offseason, and Hall was encouraged.
“It’s going good, I’m finally feeling like a linebacker now,” Hall said, via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. “I got my weight all the way down. At minicamp, I was basically still a defensive lineman playing linebacker and learning the game. Now that I’ve got all my weight off, it’s time to work.”
He was listed at 300 pounds last year, but is down to 255 now. Hall was a linebacker in high school, but grew into a lineman at Arkansas State. He’s since peeled off the pounds with diet and training.
“Running is easy, but I’ve got to get back and know where I’m going to be and where to cover,” Hall said. “Now that I’ve done that, I’m going to be flying around pretty fast.”
Such a move isn’t unprecedented. Cardinals linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, who made the Pro Bowl as a special teamer, began his career as a defensive tackle. Alexander bounced through several stops before making a name for himself with the Redskins playing linebacker and running down kicks.