Ready to report: Aidan Hall

After running at state track and graduating high school, Aidan Hall is ready to report to Iowa City and begin his college career with the Hawkeyes. We caught up with the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Harlan native this week to discuss the upcoming move, what position he will be playing to start out with, and much more.

Q: What have the last couple of weeks been like for you as you wrap up high school and state track and get ready to begin the next chapter?

HALL: Well, the last couple weeks have been a little tough honestly just because I’ve had some injuries with my hamstring. I’ve been going to physical therapy every day and I was able to run at state, but then I kind of reinjured it a little bit. But I think I’ll be good to go by June 11th.

Q: Was it a hamstring injury that caused you to miss state track last year as well?

HALL: Yeah, last year it was my right leg and this year it’s my left leg.

Q: Did you get to a point where you could do relays but didn’t want to push it running the 100 meter dash or one of the open events?

HALL: Yeah, I didn’t want to risk it.

Q: How did you guys end up doing this year?

HALL: We won the 4×200 and then I tweaked it in the 4×100 prelims, but we ended up winning it the next day even without me. We were pretty loaded this year.

Q: That caps off your high school athletic career with state titles in track and a couple in football of course. What’s the feeling like when you reflect back on it all?

HALL: It’s kind of sad in a way because I realized this is the last time I’m ever going to be able to compete for Harlan, but the feeling is just super grateful. Not a lot of kids have had the opportunities that I’ve had, coming to this high school and being able to win two state titles in football. This year we got our first track trophy in 20 years with a third place finish. It’s just been really amazing and I’m super grateful. Obviously, it didn’t end exactly the way I wanted it to go, but I’m still just super grateful.

Q: Have you already had graduation and everything?

HALL: Yep, we graduated last weekend and I already had my grad party and everything, so I’m basically done.

Q: What was that feeling like closing the book on high school?

HALL: It was a surreal feeling because it goes by so fast. It seems like just yesterday I was a freshman and now I’m graduating. But I have a lot to look forward to at Iowa, so I’m excited. I feel like I’m ready and it’s time for the next step.

Q: When do you officially make the move?

HALL: June 11th.

Q: What are you looking forward to this summer starting workouts with the team?

HALL: I’m just excited for the workouts. It will help me get started on the next chapter of my life. Hopefully I can get on special teams this season or maybe even some playing time, but I’m just excited to get started, learn everything I can, and get a chance to play at that level.

Q: What’s the latest right now on your position? Where are you playing when you show up day one?

HALL: I couldn’t even tell you – safety, linebacker, receiver. I think it will be safety to start. It will be kind of like what they’re doing with Koen Entringer. He could potentially move down to linebacker later on – it just kind of depends on how big he gets – but right now he’s at safety. I think they’ll do something similar with me. That’s kind of what I talked about with Coach Woods the last time we spoke, but he did mention receiver too. He just said they’re going to put me wherever they feel is the best fit for me.

Q: How do you approach that? What are your thoughts going in as far as your preference?

HALL: I mean if I’m being honest I’d like to play on the offensive side of the ball because I like scoring touchdowns, but I’m good playing on Coach Parker’s defense too. I’m going to be all in wherever they put me. I’m just excited and wherever it is, I’m ready to go.

Q: You mentioned Coach Woods earlier. What does he mean to you as your lead recruiter and a former Hawkeye player from the state of Iowa?

HALL: He means a lot to me. He was the first coach to recruit me. He kind of set the tone and is a big reason why I am where I am right now getting ready to go there. I’m super grateful to have him in my life and he’s just a great guy.

Q: Is he pretty anxious to get you on special teams?

HALL: Yep. He said they’re going to try me and Zach Lutmer on kick return and they’ll be plenty of opportunities on special teams with the guys they lost.

Q: Coming in, where are you at height and weight wise right now?

HALL: I’m just under 6-2 and down to about 195 because of track, but I’ll get back over 200 by the time I get there.

Q: Have you found on what number you are wearing in college?

HALL: No, I haven’t yet. We have Nick Jackson coming in so he might take #6, but if he doesn’t I’ll try to snag that.

Q: Harlan has some other prospects coming up. What is it about your guys’ program that produces so many good football players?

HALL: I think it starts with our coaching staff and our strength coach, Coach Cairney. He came over my freshman year and he really kind of turned things around. He has a CrossFit base and really gets athletes faster and stronger. I think it starts with him and then another big part of it is just the kids and the culture. Cade Sears will definitely be a name to watch and Franz Reisz as well. Those guys are good playmakers and good people all around.

Q: What’s Wil Neuharth doing next year? He obviously had quite a performance at the state meet.

HALL: He’s kind of waiting to see. He’s talking to Iowa and Iowa State right now and kind of waiting to see if he can get any scholarship money. Before state track, I think he was just going to go to Iowa State just for college, but now he’s thinking about it more.

Q: Obviously, you have been to a lot of games at Kinnick and even come out of the tunnel as a recruit, but what is that first game going to be like when you’re in full pads and come out to “Back in Black” for the first time?

HALL: I can’t wait. Everyone says it’s just the most crazy feeling, especially the first time. I think about it just about every day. I’m just super excited, growing up and watching the Hawks, you always want to do that as a kid.

Q: Your whole family is Hawkeye fans, right? What is this whole experience going to be like for them?

HALL: I’m sure they’ll be pretty emotional for that first one. I think they’re going to go to basically every game whether I’m playing or not, but they’re super excited and ready to go.

Q: Going back to your decision, when you got the offer from Iowa and ended up committing, what made you comfortable that you knew that was the right place?

HALL: Well, even months prior to them offering, I knew if they did I was going to commit. I’ve been a fan my whole life and after getting to know the coaching staff pretty well, they seem like they’ll be a great fit for me. It’s a great family culture, but also business like at the same time. I just really like everything about the program.

A three-star prospect, Hall verbally committed to Iowa on May 21, 2022, choosing the Hawkeyes over scholarship offers from Minnesota, Army, Air Force, North Dakota State, South Dakota, South Dakota State, and Northern Iowa, among others. A true playmaker in all three phases, he finished his senior season with 810 yards rushing, 837 yards receiving, and 31 touchdowns on offense, and 27 tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown on defense, and two touchdowns on special teams in leading Harlan to its second straight state title.

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