By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the 2016 season barreling down on Cookeville as Opening Night stands a mere two months away, Tennessee Tech football player Maleek Hall is proving he's already off on the right foot. The incoming senior cornerback was recognized as a preseason third team defensive All-American by Football Gameplan, receiving the accolade Thursday afternoon.
The distinguished honor, which was only handed down to four other players that hail from the Ohio Valley Conference, should come as little surprise after the sterling 2015 campaign that the Clarksville, Tenn. native enjoyed. The numbers speak for themselves after Hall led the nation in passes defended last year with 17, a pivotal reason why the 5-foot-10, 190-pound member of the secondary took home all-OVC second team honors.
Not only did Hall showcase his ability to defend the pass, but the speedster ranked fourth on the team and 20th in the conference with 64 total tackles, including three tackles-for-loss. Aside from being stout on the defensive side of things, Hall displayed a great deal of versatility with a knack for coming up big on special teams.
Among the highlights, the athletic corner took a blocked PAT 90 yards to the house for two points in Tech's 30-24 win over Tennessee State in the regular season finale, and his two blocked kicks in a narrow 31-29 victory at Murray State on Sept. 26, pushed Hall to the OVC and National Special Teams Player of the Week. That thrilling game also saw him record a season-high 10 total tackles in addition to a season-high tying three pass break-ups, exhibiting his ability to do a little bit of everything on the gridiron.
Established in 2007, Football Gameplan has selected a Preseason FCS All-American team since 2013, and has also done so for FBS, DII, DIII and NAIA levels.
Hall and the rest of the Golden Eagles have their sights set on the season-opener under first-year head coach Marcus Satterfield, Sept. 1 against Wofford from inside Tucker Stadium.
