Cleveland, OH

Browns select Ohio State DT Michael Hall Jr., a Cleveland Heights native, at No. 54 in NFL Draft 2024

Published

2 years ago

April 27, 2024

Browns select Ohio State DT Michael Hall Jr., a Cleveland Heights native, at No. 54 in NFL Draft 2024

BEREA, Ohio — The Browns went back to the Buckeye well in the second round of the draft, selecting defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. in the second round with the 54th overall pick, and Hall is coming home.

Last year, they drafted offensive tackle Dawand Jones in the fourth round, and he was pressed into service as the starting right tackle in Week 3. They also have former Buckeye Denzel Ward at cornerback, who touted Hall in a press conference two weeks ago and posted a congrats on X on Friday night.

“Great addition in Mike Hall for the Browns,” Ward posted. “You can’t go wrong with the Buckeyes.”

Two weeks ago at the start of offseason program, Ward said, “I hope (we draft him). That’s a good player coming out in the draft from Ohio State that he’d be a good addition to the team I feel like.”

For Hall, a redshirt sophomore, the admiration was mutual.

“I mean, two Ohio guys growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, is just a great feeling,” Hall said on his draft conference call. “We know we’re real familiar with the area and to stay here our whole career, I mean, from Pop Warner to high school, middle school to college, to Ohio State, and then still staying home at the top of the peak of the level. So it’s just great.”

But Ward certainly isn’t the only former Buckeye with whom Hall can chant “OH-IO” in the locker room. He’s got three teammates from 2023 in right tackle Dawand Jones, center Luke Wypler, and safety Ronnie Hickman too.

“Oh, yeah, that’s my dog (Jone),” Hall said. “You know, Dawand, he just called me right before this. I mean, just, were talking about this the whole time, even with my formal, my 30 day visit. You know, he was just saying, like, ‘man, if you get here, it’s over with.’ We’re the best duo, like offense defense wise. And we bring a lot of juice at practice, even at Ohio State. I know it’s going to be ten times more at the next level, but really blessed to be able to play with my brother for life.”

Born in the Cleveland suburb of Garfield Heights, Hall (6-foot-3, 290 pounds), who turns 21 in June, played his high school ball at Streetsboro after starting out at East Cleveland’s Benedictine.

As a redshirt freshman, Hall was dubbed “Baby Aaron Donald” by his Buckeyes teammates because he was so difficult to block in practice.

A two-year starter at Ohio State, he earned top defensive lineman honors for the National Team at the Senior Bowl in January. He might need to add bulk in the pros, but his pass-rush win-rate was second among FBS defensive tackles. The 33rd Team’s Greg Cosell wrote: “Showed natural quickness off the ball in the run game with a snap to his movement, especially in confined spaces. Quick, explosive hand usage to break down OL in the run game. Excellent balance and body control. He played strong off the snap with leverage and power to jar OL, then lockout with his hands and play off blocks.”

Browns assistant GM Glenn Cook, said their phone started ringing in the war room 20 minutes before the pick about trades, and didn’t stop. He credited Browns GM Andrew Berry with patiently waiting for the pick and resisting the temptation to trade it.

“The way I would describe him is a shapeshifter, the way he can move his body, the way he can attack the quarterback,” Browns assistant GM Andrew Berry said. “I think probably next to Andrew, the happiest person was (defensive coordinator) Jim Schwartz. Just with our attacking style. He really fits our model and our style.

“So just really excited with his ability, with his upside, his ability to impact the quarterback. Those are the things I would highlight just to start, but really excited to get him.”

Browns assistant GM Catherine Raiche said Hall’s ability to rush the passer from the interior is a premium trait and something NFL teams covet.

“Those players will either go off the board early or get paid (in free agency),” Raiche said.

She noted that the Browns view his size (6-3, 290), a little small for a defensive tackle, as an asset and not a liability.

“I think when you look at how we play the position and how we ask our guys to get off the ball and how athletic they need to be and how quick they need to be, that’s what Michael is going to bring to the table,” she said.

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Hall was a third-team All-Big Ten Conference selection in 2023, recording a career-high 24 tackles. He had only 1.5 sacks, but notched 4.5 the year before to go with his 7.5 tackles for a loss.

“We saw all the things you look for at the position (in Hall),” Cook said.

Raiche shared the exchange between defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Hall.

“Jim got on the phone with him, gave him a quiz and he was ready to roll and he is about to be the engine of this defense and I’m not going to use the words that they used,” she said. “But let’s just say ‘mess things up’ in the front there.”

Draft analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic wrote, “With his first-step burst and lateral agility, Hall quickly gets vertical and is a tough player to handle one-on-one. He uses his long arms and natural leverage to work underneath blocks, although his lack of size and anchor put him in compromised positions, especially versus the run.

“Overall, Hall was more of a flash player than consistent force, but his quick-twitch movements and natural energy are the ingredients of a disruptive gap penetrator. If he stays healthy, he will be an immediate rotation player and eventual starting three -technique tackle in a four-man front.”

In the third round, when the Browns selected Michigan guard Zak Zinter, the tape revealed that Hall was the player who was shoved into Zinter and inadvertently broke his leg in Michigan’s victory over the Buckeyes on Nov. 25th. Zinter noted that the two players have “come full circle” as teammates now, and he can’t wait to join him.

By the time the Browns picked in the second round, several of the players high on their radar in that round were gone. They included Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey, who went 34th to the Chargers, Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton, who went 36th to the Commanders, and Oregon center/guard Jackson Powers-Johnson, who went 44th to the Raiders.

The Browns headed into Day 2 with picks No. 54 in the second round and No. 85 in the third round. They also have four picks on Day 3: No. 156 in the fifth round, No. 206 in the sixth round, No. 227 in the seventh round and No. 243 in the seventh round.

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Cleveland, OH

WKYC Channel 3

Published

4 hours ago

March 27, 2026

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Cleveland, OH

Northeast Ohio drag performers speak out against HB 249

Published

16 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Northeast Ohio drag performers speak out against HB 249

CLEVELAND — For Kyle Burnett, drag is more than just a hobby, discovering the art form after falling into a deep depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Burnett, who is nonbinary, has been living in Ohio for more than a decade and has performed as “Zoey Zegai” for five of those years.

What You Need To Know

2025 is considered one of the most dangerous years on record for LGBTQ+ Americans, according to GLAAD

The nonprofit reports that more than 930 anti-LGBTQ incidents were recorded last year, ranging from hate speech to threats and physical violence

Ohio is now one of several U.S. states at the center of political debate over LGBTQ rights

House Bill 249, widely referred to as the “drag ban,” is now heading to the Ohio Senate after passing in the House this week

“It was a tough time … I found drag not only as a way of entertainment, but embracing myself as a queer member of the LGBTQ+ community,” said Burnett, who uses he/they pronouns.

While Burnett has been met with substantial support, he said, he’s noticed a recent shift in societal attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community over the last year.

“I had my purse and was wearing short shorts because Ohio gets hot in the summertime, and I had a beer bottle thrown at me from outside of someone’s car window,” Burnett said.

“Zoey Zegai,” which Burnett said, is influenced by old-school divas like Joan Crawford and newer divas like Jinkx Monsoons.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been proposed during the 2026 legislative session nationwide.

One of these bills is HB 249, or the “Indecent Exposure Modernization Act,” which would restrict drag performances to adult entertainment venues. The policy also changes the definition of public indecency to include “performers or entertainers who exhibit a gender identity that is different from the performer’s or entertainer’s biological sex using clothing, makeup, prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts, or other physical markers.”

TransOhio Executive Director Dara Adkison said the bill uses broad language and could criminalize gender-diverse expression.

“It’s really making a statute that law enforcement professionals get to enforce their personal ideas about what is and isn’t appropriate gender representation, what is and isn’t performance. You know, is it singing karaoke? Is it being and drag queen? I know, is it a trans person walking down?” said Adkison, who uses they/them pronouns.

While many Ohioans are expressing concerns about the bill targeting transgender people and drag performers, nonprofit Equality Ohio said, the legislation’s impact expands to athletes and countless others.

The bill revises a previous code banning the exposure of “private parts” to now ban the exposure of “private areas,” said Dwayne Steward, Executive Director of Equality Ohio.

“Because the language they use is so vague, it really can apply to anyone, really. The language has been shifted from ‘obscenity’ … someone showing their genitals … to anyone showing their ‘genital area’, which could mean anyone who’s wearing a sports bra, a cheerleader who may be showing their midriff. “

Supporters of HB 249 said the bill is meant to protect children, while others have said this argument reinforces a harmful narrative surrounding drag performances.

“People, immediately when they see drag, they think that it is something that is sexual, something that is trying to indoctrinate children, to expose them to sexual content. And that’s not the case in any capacity,” Olivia Kowslowski.

Kowslowski is born and raised in northeast Ohio, now performing as “Monica Mod.”

Kowslowski, who started first started performing drag in Jan. 2022.

“I think that my perspective is important because it just shows that the bill is harmful to many people, including people that they were not expecting to be impacted by this,” she said. “… Most people don’t realize that when I’m in drag, I am, I’m a cisgender woman.”

While she’s become well known around her college campus’ drag scene, Kowslowski said, she and other performers are facing additional barriers.

“I have found that finding bookings is much more difficult because many venues are a lot more hesitant to host drag events at their spaces, or even support drag entertainers and their venues. Mainly from HB 249,” she said.

The Democratic Society of America’s Cleveland chapter recently announced it is launching a Gender Freedom Policy Petition that would go against “recent legislation calling to limit and ban drag performances,” calling it, “an injustice to not only the drag scene but also the broader Cleveland community.”

The petitions also includes provisions “that safeguard drag performers” and call for city-backed gender-affirming care services.

HB 249 now remains under review by the Ohio Senate and would require the governor’s signature before going into effect.

While the future remains uncertain, Burnett said, he and others in the drag community are hoping to build wider solidarity across all Ohio populations.

“We’re all just trying to live the same day-to-day life, get groceries, pay bills, drive to-and-from work. But there’s no room for hate,” Burnett said. “There’s no room for violence. We just want to feel like Ohio citizens.”

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Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Guardians Legend Announces Retirement From MLB Before Opening Day

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Cleveland Guardians Legend Announces Retirement From MLB Before Opening Day

Getty

CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 01: Roberto Perez #55 of the Cleveland Indians reacts after Addison Russell #27 of the Chicago Cubs , hit a two-run RBI double during the first inning in Game Six of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field on November 1, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

On Thursday evening, the Cleveland Guardians will play their first game of the 2026 regular season when they visit the Mariners in Seattle.

Before Opening Day, a franchise legend announced that he is calling it quits on his baseball career.

Cleveland Guardians Legend Announces Retirement

GettyCLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 10: Roberto Perez #55 of the Cleveland Indians hits a two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers in the second inning during a game at Progressive Field on April 10, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Roberto Perez (who last played in 2023) announced his retirement from baseball (h/t MLB Trade Rumors).

Perez wrote (via Instagram): “After much thought and reflection, I have decided to officially retire from baseball. This game has been a major part of my life and has shaped me both on and off the field. Through baseball, I’ve learned discipline, resilience, teamwork, and the importance of commitment. I am deeply grateful for every coach, teammate, trainer, and supporter who helped me along the way and believed in me throughout my journey. While this decision was not an easy one, I feel confident that it is the right time to step away and begin the next chapter of my life. I leave the game with nothing but respect and appreciation for everything it has given me. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this experience and for the opportunities, lessons, and memories that will stay with me forever. Sincerely, Roberto Bebo Perez🙏🏻⚾️”

Perez’s MLB Career

GettyCHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 29: Roberto Perez #55 of the Cleveland Indians walks across the field in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs in Game Four of the 2016 World Series at Wrigley Field on October 29, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Perez was picked in the 33rd round of the 2008 MLB Draft.

He spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Guardians.

In that span, the 37-year-old won two Gold Glove Awards (and helped the franchise reach the World Series).

GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 31: Roberto Perez #55 and Brad Hand #33 of the Cleveland Indians hug at the mound after defeating the Minnesota Twins 6-2 at Target Field on July 31, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

Perez also spent the final two seasons of his ten-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants.

Over 516 career games, he batted .207 with 55 home runs, 193 RBI’s and 165 runs.

GettyNEW YORK, NY – MARCH 30: Roberto Perez #1 of the San Francisco Giants hits a single during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on March 30, 2023 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Current Guardians

GettyCLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 30: Manager Stephen Vogt #12 of the Cleveland Guardians speaks with the media following game one of the American League Wild Card Series against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on September 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

The Guardians are coming off a season where they won the AL Central with an 88-74 record.

They lost to the Detroit Tigers in the Wild Card Round.

Ben Stinar Ben Stinar has been covering the NBA for over seven years.

He has written for OnSI, Forbes, Amico Hoops, The Big Lead and had a podcast with former All-Star Jameer Nelson. More about Ben Stinar

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