2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Justin Hall, DT, University of North Carolina at Pembroke

• Name: Justin Hall
• Position: Defensive Tackle
• College: University of North Carolina at Pembroke
• Height: 6’0
• Weight: 265
• Twitter: @Jay_work54
• Instagram: @jay_hall35

What makes you a top prospect at your position in the 2023 NFL Draft? 

My IQ of the game, strength, quickness, and my ability to quickly read and react to the type of block the offensive line gives me.

At what age were you first interested in the sport of football? 

I have been interested in football since I was 10 years old.

What is one thing that NFL teams should know about you?

They should know that I am a very hard worker. I play the game with a lot of passion, and I am willing to do anything possible to succeed.

If you could donate to one cause in the world, what would it be? 

I would donate to any organization that help feed homeless children 

What is the best advice you have ever received? 

“Control what you can control!” This piece of advice is very powerful because you can use it in any situation in your life. I can control how hard I work every time I step on the field, I can’t always control the outcome, but if I do everything that I need to do everything will happen how it is supposed to happen.

Who was your childhood hero? 

My high school coach Travis Lewis has always given me great advice, as well as pushed me to be where I am today. He has been a great role model in the community. 

Who is the most underrated teammate in your locker room at your school?  

I would have to say Austin Chavis is one of our younger defensive lineman with a very high ceiling I believe that he will be a very special player in the upcoming years.

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

My biggest pet peeve would have to be when people talk while someone else is talking. I feel like it is disrespectful to do that.

Overcoming adversity is what defines character, what was the hardest moment in your life to overcome?  

One of the hardest moments in my life I had to overcome was losing my uncle to COVID my senior year. Being away from home and unable to be with my family during this period of loss challenged me mentally. Family is one of the most important things in my life. For the remainder of the season, I dedicated the rest of the season to not only play for my uncle but also for the family that I do still have supporting me. 

Tell me something about your school and why it is so special to you?

Ironically, coming out of high school UNCP was one of the schools that I was most interested in because it was only about 30 minutes from my hometown. Due to them being unable to recruit out of South Carolina I  did not have a chance to play there. On deciding to enter the transfer portal, UNCP was one of the first schools to offer me to play my last eligible year of college football. 

What is your favorite snack food? 

My favorite snack is tootsie rolls. 

What is the best part of football? 

The best part of football is getting a chance to compete against different opponents and also being a part of a great game-day atmosphere every week. 

If you could sell yourself in one sentence what would you say?  

I would say that if you want someone that is going to work hard every day, be a great leader and show respect to everyone then I am the person.

If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be? 

It is hard to pinpoint one player in the league that I would compare myself to but if I had to choose a couple of players that model some aspects of my game around it would be Brandon Graham for his quickness and the way he uses his hands, Chris Jones for the way that he plays the run game in the middle, and Rashan Gary for the way that he plays with a high motor every play.

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would it be and why?  

Three people that I would have dinner with would be Jay Z, Kobe Bryant, and Elon musk. Those are three very interesting people that I feel like I could gain a lot of knowledge from. I choose Jay Z and Elon due to their financial decisions and business mindset. I chose Kobe due to wanting to pick his brain about his killer instinct whenever he is on the court as well as to understand what it takes to be a winner like him.