Auburn football: Derick Hall makes Lombardi Award watchlist

While there are many questions that revolve around the state of Auburn football’s offense heading into the 2022 season, the defense is primed to be one of the most formidable in the SEC. Though the Tigers lost some talent to the NFL during the offseason, a multitude of returners will set the team up for success.

One of the most impactful returners is senior edge rusher Derick Hall. While the edge could have declared for the NFL, he decided to return to the Plains for his senior season after putting up impressive stats as a junior.

In 2021, Hall recorded 52 total tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss on 57 yards, in addition to nine sacks for 49 yards and two forced fumbles. He made the SEC coaches All-SEC second team and was named the Great Southern Wood team lineman of the year.

Now, ahead of the 2022 season, everyone is expected more greatness from Derick Hall, so much so that he has been named as a candidate for the 2022 Rotary Lombardi Award. Each year, the award is given to recognize linebackers that offer not only an outstanding performance on the field, but also exemplify the character of coach Vince Lombardi.

According to Jeff Shearer of AuburnTigers.com, the Lombardi Award Watchlist is made up of 77 players that are voted onto the list by a subcommittee of the Award committee as well as SID submissions.

11 players from each of The Big 10, SEC, and Big 12 conferences made the list, as well as 8 members of the ACC. In the SEC, two players were selected from Alabama (Henry To’o To’o and Will Anderson Jr.), three players were selected from Georgia (Brock Bowers, Jalen Carter, and Nolan Smith), one player from Arkansas (Bumper Pool), one player from Florida (O’Cyrus Torrence), one player from Texas A&M (Layden Robinson), one player from LSU (Ali Gaye), one player from Ole Miss (Nick Broeker), and Auburn football’s Derick Hall.