Overview: Veteran scouts will tell you that players who were good enough to start on a quality team as a freshman tend to be the safest picks come April. If that is indeed the case, Hall might be the best player in the nation. Hall has played in every game of his career with the Wolverines, earning recognition after each of his first three seasons. Hall was recognized as a freshman All-American in 2003 and has earned all-conference honors after both his sophomore and junior campaigns. Not one to rest on his laurels, Hall was even better in the 2006 season. He consistently shut down his half of the field, led the Big Ten in pass breakups and was a finalist for the 2006 Thorpe Award, annually given to the nation's top defensive back.

Though sack-masters along the defensive line and instinctive, productive linebackers will often get the headlines, there may not be a surer bet than Hall among this year's defensive prospects. Hall is the total package at cornerback. He has the speed to run with any wideout in the country, the hands to turn poorly thrown passes into defensive touchdowns and the toughness to support the run.

Positives: Well defined athlete in both his upper and lower body ... Looks the part, physically ... Prepares off the field as well as he performs on it ... Knows his opponent and though he has played only cornerback, his coaches will tell you that he knows the other defensive backs' assignments as well as his own ... Looks born to play the position ... Good speed to run with receivers ... Very good short-area burst to close on the ball ... Very good use of his hands to jam the receiver at the line of scrimmage and battle throughout the route ... Quick hands and excellent hand-eye coordination help him consistently deflect passes ... Times his leaps well and competes for the ball ... Good hands for the interception and is a reliable runner with the ball in his hands ... Experience as a punt returner is a plus and shows in his ability to gain yardage after the interception ... Reacts quickly to the running game ... Reliable open-field tackler ... Mature, hard-working player who will maximize his ability.

Negatives: Not the classic burner at cornerback ... Estimated at a 4.50-second 40-yard dash by NFL scouts entering his senior season ... Has been surrounded by a great deal of talent throughout his career, not the least of which is a terrific pass rush.

Attended Vista High School (2003) coached by Chris Hauser ... San Diego Tribune Scholar-Athlete Award winner ... Ran 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds ... Measured a 33-inch vertical leap ... Played cornerback, wide receiver and quarterback ... Key statistics: collected 77 solo tackles, 26 assists and nine interceptions in career ... Recorded 51 tackles and three interceptions as a senior ... Notched 11 PBUs, blocked three kicks and made one fumble recovery senior season ... Also made 24 catches for 520 yards and three touchdowns as wide receiver as a senior ... Made 26 tackles and four interceptions as a junior ... Honors and Rankings: named to PrepStar Magazine's All-American list ... Listed as an All-American, the No. 25 defensive back in the nation and the No. 22 player in California by SuperPrep ... Rated as nation's No. 14 cornerback by Tom Lemming ... Rated as No. 24 defensive back in nation by Collegefootballnews.com ... Tabbed No. 10 cornerback in nation by Rivals100.com ... Graded a four-star prospect by Rivals100.com ... Rated No. 11 cornerback in the country by MaxEmfingerRecruiting.com ... Rated No. 7 cornerback and No. 82 player in the nation by TheInsiders.com ... Named to roster of 2003 U.S. Army All-American Bowl ... Earned all-county and all-conference first-team honors at wide receiver and cornerback as a senior ... All-conference second team junior season ... Other sports: three-year letterman in track ... Ran 100 and 200 meters and participated in high jump on track team ... Ran 10.9 in 100 meters and 22.2 in 200 meters ... Member of school's 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.

Leon Lastarza Hall was born Dec. 9, 1984.