Michael Hall Jr.’s dream of playing in the NFL is now a reality.
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 56 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Hall is the first player chosen by the Browns in the draft.
And for the Cleveland native, there could not be a better fit.
“It would definitely be a blessing if I end up in Cleveland, but no matter what organization picks me, I’m just blessed to be in the National Football League,” Hall said on Tuesday.
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Nov 25, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. (51)
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA
Hall is now the 31st Buckeyes defensive lineman drafted to the NFL since 2000. Ohio State sits ahead of every other university in that category, including the Alabama Crimson Tide (29), LSU Tigers (29) and Florida Gators (27).
A Streetsboro High School (Cleveland, OH) alum, Hall has made his presence felt in several instances over his three years with the Buckeyes. Hall recorded 45 total tackles and six sacks, along with numerous tackles-for-loss at critical times in games.
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Hall is the second Buckeyes player to go off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft. Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was chosen by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 4 overall pick on Thursday.
After a humiliating loss to the Missouri Tigers in the 2024 Cotton Bowl, Hall was presented with the option of coming back to Ohio State for his senior year. Hall said he had given everything he could to the college game, and that it was time for him to go pro.
“I felt like coming back another year wasn’t going to do very much for me,” Hall said. “That was my gut feeling, so why not continue on to the next level and fulfill my dream?”
Another major reason Hall elected to enter the draft rather than return to the Buckeyes was his recently-born son.
“Everything’s not about me anymore, it’s about providing for my son,” Hall said. “It’s about being a great role model for him. I want him to be able to look back one day and think ‘My dad left a great legacy.’ I want to instill core values in him and teach him how to be a man.”
Ohio State Buckeyes football recruiting newscleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Four-star 2027 offensive lineman Brody McNeel committed to Ohio State on Monday night.
From Godwin High School in Richmond, Virginia, McNeel is the No. 234 overall prospect and No. 23 offensive tackle in the 247Sports composite rankings. He’s also the No. 3 player in Virginia.
McNeel, at 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, plays left tackle at Godwin.
He’ll join four-star Kellen Wymer and three-star Mason Wilt as the team’s offensive line commitments in the 2027 class. He was on campus for the Buckeyes’ win over UCLA. It was his third visit to Ohio State since the summer.
McNeel is expected to play on the inside at Ohio State, as offensive line coach Tyler Bowen continues to clean up on the recruiting trail.
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Ohio State now has seven commitments along the offensive line, three of which are up front and five of which are on offense.
Andrew Gillis covers Ohio State football and recruiting for Cleveland.com. He provides updates on Ohio State football as a whole, its prospects and the Buckeyes each week. He previously covered the Bengals for…
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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Northeast Ohio starts the week cold and blustery on Monday before a wintry mix moves in Tuesday morning, bringing a brief round of snow, sleet and cold rain to the region.
High pressure will quickly build Monday over the Ohio Valley, offering a mostly dry setup. Skies will turn mostly sunny west of Cleveland with lake-effect clouds hanging on to the east.
Highs will range from the upper 30s to low 40s near the lakeshore and in the snowbelt to the low to mid 40s south and west of Cleveland.
Northwest winds of 14 to 16 mph, with gusts up to 26 mph, will make it feel about 5 to 10 degrees colder at times.
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Temperatures will fall back into the mid to upper 20s overnight Monday as clouds increase ahead of the next system.
Wintry mix Tuesday morning
The Tuesday commute could include all snow or a rain-snow mix to start the day, but outside of a few isolated slick spots, accumulations are expected to be minimal.Courtesy National Weather Service
A fast-moving area of low pressure will slide through the Ohio Valley Tuesday, spreading a shield of mixed precipitation into Northeast Ohio around daybreak and during the morning commute.
Most spots will begin with light snow or a rain-snow mix, with a brief window for sleet farther south closer to Akron.
Any frozen precipitation is expected to be minor, accumulating a trace to a few tenths of an inch, at most. A few slick spots could be possible where this mix is persistent, especially in the snowbelt where the air will be the coldest.
As temperatures rise into the upper 30s and low 40s by midday, the mix is expected to change over to plain rain. Cold, damp weather will continue through the afternoon before showers taper off in the evening.
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Dry midweek, rain returns late week
A fast-moving system area of low pressure will bring a wintry mix to Northeast Ohio on Tuesday, though accumulations are expected to be minimal. Another system could arrive as early as late Thursday, though that will be all rain.cleveland.com
High pressure builds back across the Great Lakes Tuesday night into Wednesday, leading to a dry but seasonably cool day. Highs Wednesday will reach the mid to upper 40s with lingering clouds.
Another system is expected to approach from the Mississippi Valley late Thursday, bringing rain chances back to the region. Forecast confidence drops late in the week as the weather pattern turns more active, but temperatures are expected to stay mild enough to prevent any frozen precipitation.
Highs Thursday will climb into the low and mid 50s.
More rain chances this weekend
Looking ahead to the weekend, another system may track near the Ohio Valley Friday into Saturday, bringing additional rain chances — especially south of Cleveland toward Akron.
Confidence remains low on the exact track and timing, but temperatures should stay in the upper 40s to low 50s, keeping the precipitation all rain.
Sunday currently looks like the better chance for a dry day.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State has found its 2026 tight end commit.
Just a day after he was officially offered a scholarship by coach Ryan Day and tight ends coach Keenan Bailey, the Buckeyes earned a commitment from three-star tight end Nick Lautar on Sunday.
He attends Lebanon High School in Ohio and is the No. 924 overall prospect and No. 52 tight end in the 247Sports composite. He was on campus last night on a visit.
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He’s the 27th pledge in the 2026 class.
Lautar was Ohio State’s third commitment in two days, as the Buckeyes look to fill out the 2026 class and build out the 2027 class.
Ohio State’s search for a tight end in the cycle is now complete, as Lautar, a 6-foot-5 and 230 pound target, joins the class.
Andrew Gillis covers Ohio State football and recruiting for Cleveland.com. He provides updates on Ohio State football as a whole, its prospects and the Buckeyes each week. He previously covered the Bengals for…
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